Movie review: Paddington

Posted on 18 December, 2014

An explorer, an earthquake and a love for all things British (but especially marmalade) leads a young bear on the adventure of a lifetime from Darkest Peru to London’s Paddington Station in search of a family to take him in.

This is the furry heart of childhood.

The desires of every nascent human – to be safe, to be loved and to belong – are gently explored in this gorgeous film. Gently for the younger audience that is, any adult audiences may experience some twinges of social conscience in the clear metaphors for our society (admittedly bearless – but with many, less hirsute, marginalised members).

There has been a bit of a brouhaha in the British press about the PG rating, which I sincerely think parents do not need to worry about – unless you have a child who is particularly sensitive to the plight of the less fortunate. Parents should not, in my opinion, be at all concerned about the ‘sexiness’ of Hugh Bonneville in drag or the ‘threat’ of Nicole Kidman’s taxidermist.

Parents should, in my opinion, take the whole family along (including your Mrs. Bird if you have one) and enjoy the heck out of a magical bit of cinema.

Arguably the most famous British bear after Winnie-the Pooh, it has been a long wait for Paddington to get his own feature film. I do have a special place in my heart for the charm of the hand drawn 1970s TV series, and especially the gruff, bear-like narration by the late Michael Hordern (suitably saluted in Dumbledore’s growly voicing of Uncle Pastuzo) but I think it is only in the last few years that a bear that walks and talks and interacts so realistically could have been created. He is gorgeous.

The whole film is utterly lovely – from the wonderfully Admirable Crichton style establishment in Peru to the steampunk British Explorers’ Club it is just a joy to look at. And as for that fur, and that face, the urge to hug was almost irresistible.

The story is good fun too, using the ideas at the heart of his creation in the books by Michael Bond, but transplanting them to the present day gives Paddington an extra layer of fish-out-of-wateredness to go hand-in-hand with his natural susceptibility to mishap. I am almost certain modern Londoners no longer have 104 different ways of saying ‘it’s raining’!

Ben Whishaw has the purrfect voice for this bear. Colin Firth was originally cast and whilst I could listen to him read the phone book, he made a good decision in withdrawing from the project. Paddington could not have a sophisticated voice, he needs to be innocent, polite but just a bit naughty and that is pretty much a description of Whishaw.

The whole Brown family are very good in their roles, with Hugh Bonneville a standout.

Nicole is comically sinister, in the very best tradition of the panto villain and some well known British faces pop up in minor roles, notably a slightly icky Peter Capaldi (Dr. Who) and Jim Broadbent as the antique shop owner who becomes Paddington’s friend in the books but has a lesser role here. However, the whimsical animation sequence in the shop is pure magic, as are other little touches throughout. Including the recurring pigeons! I don’t know whose idea these touches were but I must say that the director, Paul King (The Mighty Boosh), is to be congratulated for his light touch throughout.

Furry, funny, friendly and family – I think this film has ‘Christmas’ written all over it.

And now I want a marmalade sandwich …