Animated characters Aunt Lucy, voiced by Imelda Statunton and Paddington, voiced by Ben Whishaw, appear in the movie "Paddington 2. The Catholic News Service classification is A-I -- general patronage. (CNS/Warner Bros.)

By Catholic News Service

This endearing blend of animation and live action finds the much-loved talking bear of the title (voice of Ben Whishaw) far from his roots in the Peruvian jungle, having settled into a cozy domestic life with the very British human family (led by Hugh Bonneville and Sally Hawkins) that adopted him in the first film. But his routine of munching on marmalade sandwiches and helping his neighbors in small but thoughtful ways is rudely interrupted when he is wrongly convicted of stealing an antique book. Though imprisoned, he still manages to exert his trademark charm on his fellow inmates, including the jail’s initially ferocious hardened criminal of a cook (Brendan Gleeson).

Writer-director Paul King’s follow-up to his 2015 original, which also features Hugh Grant as the egotistical actor who makes himself Paddington’s nemesis, is once again based on a series of books by Michael Bond. The warm goodness and jaunty joking are only slightly marred by some ridiculous wordplay that may have a few parents frowning momentarily, while the smallest members of the family may be scared by a few action scenes.

Perilous situations, brief childish anatomical humor. The Catholic News Service classification is A-I — general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG — parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

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