Paddington 2, widely regarded as one of the greatest modern British films and a standout of the 21st century, is airing on BBC One this evening at 7:10pm. The film will also be available to stream on BBC iPlayer for a limited time afterwards.
A Sequel That Surpassed the Original
Released in 2017, the sequel to 2014's Paddington was directed by Paul King and co-written by Simon Farnaby, both alumni of The Mighty Boosh. The very British follow-up surpassed its excellent predecessor in a new live-action adventure following Michael Bond's talking bear from Peru, now living in London.
The plot sees Paddington framed for a burglary by a dastardly actor named Phoenix Buchanan, played by Hugh Grant in a BAFTA-nominated performance.
Near-Perfect Critical Score
For years, the film held a rare 100% positive score on Rotten Tomatoes, until one contrarian review added later downgraded it to 99%. Critics and audiences alike have praised it as hilarious, heartwarming, charming, and tear-jerking at times, offering perfect escapism for adults and children.
Enduring Appeal and Pop Culture Impact
Paddington Bear himself embodies warm-hearted kindness throughout the film, which proves infectious wherever he goes. The third installment, Paddington in Peru, is also a decent effort even without King and Farnaby, but nothing compares to Paddington 2.
The film's reputation extends into pop culture, with a running joke in 2022's The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent in which Pedro Pascal's character gets Nicolas Cage to watch the film, and they are both blown away by how good it is.
