Movies for children can be hell, but Paddington and Paddington 2 are different. These movies are clever, have a lovable protagonist, and, per our own Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, “never betray the sweet-tempered worldview of its source material.” Hugh Grant, who starred in the sequel, apparently agrees, as he now wants to set the record straight that, out of all of his movies, Paddington 2 was the best. End of discussion.
Grant offered this take in a new interview with Vanity Fair, where he basically asks you to cast aside his BAFTA- and Golden Globe-award winning role in Four Weddings and a Funeral, as well as his turns in Notting Hill and the ever-relevant Love Actually. “I was presenting I think at the Golden Globes, and they do that thing when you walk out, and they say, ‘From the forthcoming Paddington 2, Hugh Grant.’ And someone showed me Twitter afterwards, and it was … people were full of derision. ‘Christ, has it come to that. Poor old Hugh. Paddington 2. Sequel to a kids film,’” he said. “It’s particularly annoying in the case of Paddington 2, because I genuinely believe it may be the best film I’ve ever been in.” He’s not wrong, many would say; he’s just very bold for having said it.
48 Comments
It would be hard to disagree . . . especially not having seen it.
He’s not wrong and it looks like everyone agrees with him.https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/paddington_2
Quite, it’s a thing of beauty and whenever my anti-depressants aren’t doing the job it’s a movie which so far has always managed to put me in a good mood.
See also Babe for me, and strangely enough Mad Max Fury Road
Not that strange. Babe: Pig in the City was directed by Mad Max’s George Miller.
And Fantastic Mr. Fox!
I think the scene where Paddington introduces his prison buddies to the Browns was the hardest I laughed all that year.‘This is Fibbs—’‘G’day.’
‘Spoon—’
‘Hello.’
‘Jimmy the Snitch—’
‘A’ight.’
‘T-Bone—’
‘Wotcha.’
‘The Professor—’
‘Hmm?’
‘Squeaky Pete—’
‘Hello!’
‘Double-bass Bob—’
‘HELLO.’
‘Farmer Jack—’
‘How do.’
‘Mad dog—’
‘Arf!’
‘Johnny Cashboy—’
‘Ker–ching!’
‘—and Sir Geoffrey Wilcott.’
‘. . . I hope I can rely on your vote?’
Followed by the admittedly predictable but still hilarious “We can still hear you, Mr. Brown” bit.
Yep. But played to perfection by Mr Gleeson.
I go fooorwaaaards youuuu gooo backwardsss somewhereeeee we will meeeeeeeet
It’s a perfect movie and I will fight anyone who says otherwise.
Hugh Grant says This part of the headline is vague and could either mean:1) Paddington 2 is the best movie Hugh Grant was in; OR2) Hugh Grant’s best performance was in Paddington 2. Hugh’s quote in the article (“…I genuinely believe it may be the best film I’ve ever been in”) tells you it’s the first option, but in this case, I happen to think both are true. To my knowledge, it’s his only performance that combines his Four Weddings fumbling charm with his Bridget Jones deviousness.
Of course it’s 1. Hugh Grant would never suggest any of his own performances were any good.
I quite like Paddington 2, but I’m partial to About a Boy.
Love that movie too.
Agreed about About a Boy, and I also really enjoy him in Music & Lyrics.
About a Boy is a miracle, a film about an adult befriending a 13.year old boy, and NOT becoming creepy.
Strumming my pain with his fingers…
And he was great in it.
I just watched this again, and my cat watched the entire thing too.
I mean, he’s right.
He’s not wrong. He’s genuinely hilarious in Paddington 2. The prison production number is one of the best things I’ve seen in a long time.
Paddington is a phenomenal film and Paddington 2 is one of the few sequels that surpasses the original. Hugh Grant’s performance is one of the reasons for that. I never fail to get sucked into it whenever it comes on.
I never got the “next Cary Grant” thing but I have to admit the guy has found a great, comfortable niche as an older character actor that seems to benefit greatly from his apparent lack of ego.
It’s still strange to me that being in a Paddington movie has now become a potential high point for anyone’s career. I kept expecting the original to turn out middling at best, and then it far exceeds that. Figured the sequel would obviously be the breaking point, but no. At this rate, being in Paddington 10 is going to cause the entire cast to ascend to a higher plane of existence.Also, I don’t know, doesn’t Grant recall Lair of the White Worm? True, it didn’t have enough bears wearing clothes.
If you ever have the opportunity, listen to Ken Russel’s commentary track for Lair. It’s an absolutely brilliant piece of nuttery.
Applicable to Ken Russell saying anything about anything.
What a great guy.
But it did have Amanda Donohoe…
As someone who’s soured on Nicole Kidman over the years, she’s FANTASTIC in the original. It’s also a close call in the race of “which movie where Sally Hawkins’s bathroom fills floor to ceiling with water is better?”
I keep meaning to stream A Very English Scandal on Prime. It looks very interesting and worth watching, but Peak TV and all. One of these days, for sure.
Yout won’t regret it
Hey hey hey hey hey. Hey. Hey.Mickey Blue Eyes.
Forget about it.
Yup. He’s right. It’s a really excellent movie.
He’s right, you know.
I’m here for the Paddington franchise evolving into a summer stock situation for the cast of ‘Cloud Atlas’.
The Paddington movies are modern classics-I would love for Paddington 3 to have Nicole Kidman (who had a blast working on the film) and Hugh Grant (same) team up to try to get that bear!
It is true. Both Paddington movies prpve that awards are ultimately bullshit, because they are both perfect movies and they were both ignored everywhere but in the BAFTAS. Also that bear is the best CGI I’ve seen in years.
Well, it is. Both Paddington movies were all quality (too bad box office in the states was just ok), charming, positive, and just plain fun. They could have easily been cheap cash grabs but it’s obvious how much work went in to make them great films on their own right. I especially love how the villains for either – Nicole Kidman/Peter Capaldi and Hugh Grant really gave their all and didn’t slum it because kid’s movie.
The villainy had exactly the optimum amount of comic scenery chewing.
In the sea of shitty films he’s been in, yeah, this seems like the best of them indeed.
Curse of Fatal Death or GTFO……
that’s a good pick, Hugh
“Bitter Moon.” Although “Paddington 2″ is a close second. I know its provenance is problematic, and I’ll get piled on for saying it, but it’s still a great flick.
No one’s in here to stick up for Notting Hill, I see.
He could be right, and I count myself as a Hugh Grant fan. Paddington 2 had not just a great role for him – it also had that completely show stealing musical number at the end. That scene is, I don’t know, a Schrodinger’s Cat thing. It’s both completely unnecessary in the movie, and completely necessary in the movie.
He’s got a handful of great movies, but I’m with him here, Paddington 2 is the movie version of an amazing hug.