Movie review
November 9, 2017 · 104 min · PG
Woke Score
Lower is better
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Paddington 2.
Woke representation / casting
Natural mix of British actors and diverse London background performers fits the contemporary urban setting without forced signaling, identity emphasis, or story-inappropriate choices.
Woke political dialogue
Sparse light lines promoting seeing the good in everyone and community support; no partisan, activist, or heavy-handed ideological speeches.
Identity-driven story themes
Central narrative of a foreign bear earning belonging through good behavior and enriching his community lightly echoes immigrant tales but remains traditional, apolitical, and focused on universal human values rather than group identity or systemic issues.
Western institutional / cultural critique
Paddington’s positive influence softens a tough prison environment in a comedic way; no modern institutional critique, anti-patriarchy, or systemic oppression framing.
Review
Paddington 2 is a 2017 family adventure comedy sequel in which the polite bear from Peru takes odd jobs in London to buy a rare pop-up book for his Aunt Lucy’s 100th birthday, only for the book to be stolen by a vain actor who frames him. This sparks a prison stay, a daring escape, and a quest to clear his name with help from family and new friends. The story centers on kindness, community, resilience, and simple good manners in a whimsical British setting. A gentle immigrant-style integration tale runs through the bear’s positive impact on others, but it stays light, traditional, and free of activist lectures or identity messaging.
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant.
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Virtually absent; the film enjoyed widespread acclaim as harmless family fun with negligible right-leaning criticism accusing it of pushing woke or identity politics agendas.
Creator track record context
Several involved have mild liberal or satirical histories (e.g., anti-Brexit views, diversity industry comments, pro-refugee sentiments) but none show strong patterns of identity-driven or activist creative work dominating this project.
Production
