Parents' Guide to Paddington 2

A delightful sequel that will charm audiences of all ages, this is precisely the sort of earnest, crowd-pleasing family film that parents and kids can enjoy for their own reasons. Children will gravitate to the slapstick and silliness; Paddington is prone to getting himself in spots of trouble, and there's a lot of physical comedy. One elaborate sequence involves Paddington trying his luck as a barber (he's really just meant to clean the shop) and failing spectacularly. It's an obvious bit (the bear accidentally shaves off a chunk of a gentleman's hair instead of trimming it), but it works so well. This happens again and again in the movie -- simple gags and small moments earn outsized laughs.

Adults (especially middle-aged parents with teens, like the Browns), meanwhile, will appreciate the movie's family dynamics. Mary is trying adventurous new things (she's training to swim across the English Channel), while Henry deals with a lost promotion by attempting to be hip; Judy gets over a break-up by starting an indie feminist newspaper, and Jonathan suppresses his love of model trains to go by "J Dawg" and fit in with a cooler crowd. Walters' Mrs. Bird, of course, continues to be a voice of reason. And Grant's vain, has-been Buchanan makes for a better (and gentler) villain than the original movie's scary taxidermist. But the real scene-stealers here are Paddington's fellow inmates, led by Brendan Gleeson as Knuckles McGinty, the prison cook all the felons are terrified of crossing. Of course, Paddington (and his marmalade sandwiches) can charm even hardened criminals, and soon his compassion and kindness transform the entire prison. Ultimately, the adorable bear is a much-needed reminder that if you treat others with respect and generosity, the world will be a sweeter and more colorful place.