Adventure Animation

Blu-ray Review: ‘Paddington 2’ is as Charming as Family Films Get

April 30, 2018Ben MK



FEATURE: 
Everyone's favorite bear with the British accent is back. In Paddington 2, Ben Whishaw reprises his role from the first film, but this time, he has to figure out a way out of a stickier-than-marmalade situation.

Synopsis: While searching for the perfect present for his beloved Aunt Lucy's hundredth birthday, Paddington sees a unique pop-up book in Mr. Gruber's antique shop, and embarks upon a series of odd jobs to buy it. Hilarity and adventure ensue when the book is stolen and Paddington and the Browns must unmask the thief. [Warner Bros. Home Entertainment]

To read The Reel Roundup's review of the film, click here.

AUDIO & VISUALS: 
Paddington 2 arrives on Blu-ray sporting an attractive 1080p encode, making for a pleasant viewing experience for young and old alike. From the orange-hued filling of Paddington's favorite food, marmalade sandwiches, to the vibrant scenery of a local carnival, the image is bright and colorful, not to mention crystal-clear and razor sharp, with plenty of fine detail to be found in such things as Paddington's fur and the street views from Windsor Gardens. Top it all off with a terrific Dolby Atmos sound mix, and there really isn't much room left for improvement. Dialogue comes through loud and clear, the whimsical score charms, and the film's locomotive-inspired climax provides a rousing cap-off to what is otherwise a fun and family-friendly adventure.

EXTRAS: 
Warner's two-disc Blu-ray combo pack includes a DVD copy of the film and an UltraViolet digital copy, as well as the following Blu-ray extras:

  • Paddington: The Bear Truth (5:20) - A brief look at the story, the charm of Paddington, Ben Whishaw's voice performance as the character, and the visual effects.
  • How to Make A Marmalade Sandwich (2:42) - A kid-centric how-to on how to make a marmalade sandwich from scratch.
  • Music Video with Phoenix Buchanan (1:34) - The full clip of Hugh Grant's character's performance from the film's end credits.
  • The Magical Mystery of Paddington's Pop-Up Book (3:03) - The cast and crew talk about the charm and appeal of the 1920s-style pop-up book that Paddington seeks to buy for his Aunt Lucy in the movie.
  • The Browns and Paddington: A Special Bond (5:43) - Julie Walters, Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Madeleine Harris and Samuel Joslin talk about returning to the roles they played in the first film.
  • Knuckles: A Fistful of Marmalade (2:30) - A closer look at Brendan Gleeson's gruff but ultimately soft-centered character, prison cook Knuckles McGinty.
  • The (Once) Famous Faces of Phoenix Buchanan (3:45) - A closer look at Hugh Grant's Phoenix Buchanan, master of disguise.
  • Audio Commentary by Director/Co-Writer Paul King - King talks about the story, the actors' performances, the visual effects, drawing from Paddington creator Michael Bond's books, the physical comedy, working with the cast and crew, bringing back the calypso band from the first film, and more.

Paddington 2 is available from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment as of April 24th, 2018. The Blu-ray features English Dolby Atmos, French and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, and English Dolby Digital 5.1 Descriptive Audio tracks. The film is presented with English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles. The total runtime is 1 hr. 43 min.






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