★★★★★
What a joy it is to be alive and live to see another exceptional cinematic outing for Paddington Bear. Painted in pastel bright colouring, and overflowing with the heartfelt charm of its predecessor, Paddington 2 is a pure delight. Here are boundless layers of family fun, each one lavishly spread with the finest homemade marmalade.
★
Marking the third time Sean Anders has produced an inferior sequel to a dreadful first outing, Daddy’s Home 2 (styled: Two) takes the petty comedy of its predecessor and ramps up the mean spirit. By the time the schmalzy Christmas singalong had plonked itself ungraciously on the end, I was thoroughly under the impression that I’d been too harsh on A Bad Moms Christmas.
★★★
Breathe isn’t quite the film you’d expect to mark the directorial debut of Imaginarium’s Doctor Parnassus himself, Andy Serkis. That would probably be his sophomore turn at the helm of next year’s motion capture spectacular The Jungle Book. Instead, this technologically quieter biopic is driven not by ambition so much as pure and genuine heart. Though not so remarkable as the story it tells, Breathe makes for a winning watch that leaves you both heartbroken and entirely affirmed.
The Film Blog 