by Sophia Caneira ’29 on November 13, 2025
A&E - Film & TV
What better way to get to know your roommate than to share your favorite childhood movies? For my roommate and me, Paul King’s Paddington 2 (2017) made the top of the list. Paddington 2 follows everyone’s favorite Peruvian, blue coat and red hat-wearing, marmalade-loving bear, named after London’s Paddington Station. The stories of Paddington are based on characters created by British author Michael Bond, but are not direct adaptations. The film follows Paddington as he tries to find the perfect gift for his Aunt Lucy. He finds a unique, handmade, pop-up book of London, where he lives with the Brown family. Since Aunt Lucy has never seen London for herself, Paddington sets his mind on saving enough money to buy the book for her. What ensues is a rollercoaster of comical and thrilling adventures.
One of my favorite aspects of Paddington 2 is the fact that each of the characters are fully fleshed out. Each member of the Brown family has their own personal narrative throughout the film. Mr. Brown struggles through a yoga class in an attempt to resolve his midlife crisis. Mrs. Brown is training to swim across the English Channel. Judy is running her own newspaper, and Jonathan is trying not to like steam trains in an attempt to be cool. Even the most minor characters are more than just nameless passersby—they all play a part in Paddington’s story.
Paddington, like Winnie the Pooh, the Care Bears, Corduroy, and other characters, is so beloved, both on account of his cuteness and timelessness. Paddington is a representation of kindness in action. He touches the lives of so many people, softening even those who dislike him at first. He brings the Brown family together, helps two lonely neighbors fall in love, makes lunch for strangers, and even helps a friend study for a test. Paddington is the perfect symbol of how big an impact small actions can have on the people around us. He sees the best in each person, as so many of us often fail to do. Paddington is a fine example of what it means to be a friend. He is also very keen on using one’s manners. He often quotes Aunt Lucy’s sage advice and life lessons, including the mantra, “If we’re kind and polite, the world will be right.” Yet, despite his unbelievably kind nature, Paddington is not one to be trifled with. When treated rudely or unkindly, he does not hesitate to employ the “hard stare” Aunt Lucy taught him.
While the original film, Paddington (2014), is important for establishing the main character and background surrounding Paddington’s voyage to London and his initial adventures, it is somewhat of a darker movie. The villain is a taxidermist who plans to put Paddington on display in a museum. The second film is a bit more lighthearted, with the talented Hugh Grant featured as the villain. He plays the charismatic actor Phoenix Buchanan (whose initials cleverly match those of Paddington Bear), who is after the same pop-up book as Paddington…perhaps with more selfish intentions. The acting in these films is phenomenal. Hugh Bonneville fulfills the proper, cautious (and consequently, quite comical) father archetype, while Sally Hawkins plays the sympathetic, protective mother. Ben Wishaw provides the bright, cheery voice of Paddington. The score, composed by Dario Marianelli, is fun—and with additional songs like “Jumping the Line” by Tobago and d’Lime—matches the tone of the film perfectly. The film was nominated for a number of awards and maintained a perfect 100 percent on Rotten Tomatoes prior to one critic posting a negative review. If nothing else, hopefully the 99 percent score is enough to motivate you to watch Paddington 2 if you haven’t seen it already. Even if you have, it’s certainly worth revisiting.