On Thursday night, Valley News sports reporter Josh Weinreb asked me a rather peculiar question: “Did you see everyone is freaking out about Paddington 2?”
“What?” came my bewildered response. Josh handed over his phone, which was open to Twitter, and instructed me to scroll. At first I thought it was a joke, that the movie actually was a total flop, but then I started reading the tweets.
In case you didn’t know, Paddington 2, released in the U.S. on Jan. 12, is tearing up the box office, selling out showings and shattering internet records.
I was in disbelief. Twitter was abuzz with people raving that a sequel about a computer-generated, marmalade-loving bear in a hat was A. extremely well done and B. a genuinely good watch. (Up until Thursday night, I assumed Paddington 2 was a cute film no one had asked for that was made primarily because Hugh Grant needed a paycheck.)
I was wrong. People are taking this movie v seriously.
Of course, this came as no surprise to this fan account, which has nearly 32,000 followers. Wut.
Wow! @Slashfilm has written a glowing review of the reception #Paddington2 has received. Now everyone knows 100% on @RottenTomatoes is what #Paddington2 achieved. I couldn’t have done this without you all. Paddington will always be there, for you. https://t.co/fBEzF2vrin pic.twitter.com/5U51mxCZyr
— Paddington 2 News (@Paddington2News) January 16, 2018
Many people are claiming it’s the greatest thing they’ve ever seen.
PADDINGTON 2: for 103 minutes, I knew true happiness in this life.
— david ehrlich (@davidehrlich) January 13, 2018
Seriously PADDINGTON 2 was a MAGIC MIKE XXL-level delight. That's my highest recommendation. Oscars for everybody. a Nobel Peace Prize for Hugh Grant. pic.twitter.com/abziJaOzQQ
— david ehrlich (@davidehrlich) January 14, 2018
What’s more, the movie cannot. Stop. Breaking. Review. Records. Like, it just overthrew Toy Story 2 to snatch the best-reviewed-movie-of-all-time crown.
Paddington 2 breaks records to become Rotten Tomatoes’ best-reviewed movie ever https://t.co/euOJrAiiCN
— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) January 20, 2018
Only a truly divine work of art could get the internet to reach a unanimous decision on anything.
Um. Paddington 2 is like five times better than it needs to be. I am still picking myself up off the floor after seeing this movie. I can't believe I'm typing any of these sentences. I… I implore you to see Paddington 2.
— Alex Wyse (@alexwyse) January 20, 2018
Perfection I have seen you and thy name is Paddington 2!!! pic.twitter.com/7AtabDSwAR
— Jorge R. Gutierrez (@mexopolis) January 16, 2018
PSA: Paddington is on Netflix, y’all.