As one of Britain’s most beloved and cherished literary characters, it is surprising Paddington Bear has never graced the screen until now. Perhaps that is for the best, both in terms of visual effects and storytelling, for they have gotten the chance to appropriately transition the character to the screen.
In a day-and-age where Hollywood slaps together lazy revivals of Yogi Bear and Alvin and the Chipmunks, it is both highly refreshing and deeply satisfying to see the blokes over in the U.K. put together a lovely tribute to their blue-jacket, red-hatted bear.
Within the depths of darkest Peru, explorer Montgomery Clyde (Tim Downie) discovers an extremely rare family of hyper-intelligent bears, ones that can not only speak but also pick up other human traits and interests — particularly marmalade. Befriending the species, he leaves them with his trusted hat and assures them that, should they ever come to London, they would have a home.
Several years later, following a family tragedy, the youngest bear (voiced by Ben Whishaw) decides to take up Montgomery’s offer and sneaks aboard a passing ship to the U.K. At a nearby train station, the bear quickly befriends the majority of the Brown family (Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Madeleine Harris, Samuel Joslin), who names him Paddington and brings him into their respectable house. Not long after Paddington makes himself at home, however, he begins creating chatter and ruckuses across the community.
In as much as last year’s The Lego Movie was fast-paced, bountifully full of energy and packed to the nines with imagination, Paddington is very much the old-fashioned, traditional kind of family film popularized before the ‘00s. Its plot is mundane and ordinary, sometimes to a fault. But it is so invigorated with whimsy, charm and heart from its creators that it’s hard not to be taken by it.
The cast, including supporting turns from Peter Capaldi and Nicole Kidman, is committed and likable throughout, and the writing modernizes the character without shoehorning in pandering humor or obvious pop-culture references. While, sure, a bathroom joke or two sneaks it way in, the majority of Paddington’s wit comes from heart and wit, from a screenplay from director Paul King. There’s whimsicalness to this picture that feels organic and natural in ways these kind of family pictures rarely are these days. It’s also, thankfully, unabashedly British.
The CG effects are up to par with the film’s quality, and make Paddington, the character, feel natural in his environments and never just a set of 0s and 1s. King never sacrifices the humble, playful visuals that defined his work in Bunny and the Bull and The Mighty Boosh. Additionally, Erik Wilson’s cinematography carries the breeze charm of the source material though his visuals, letting the audience be aware of the fantastical nature of the story but never throwing it into their face. All of these elements create a storybook feel to the movie that’s intentional but earned.
Endearing, bright-eyed, charming and plentifully in terms of humor and soul, Paddington is the rare film adaptation that not only lives up to its creator’s work but blends old-fashioned and new elements together into an immensely sweet package. It’s the kind of movie that actually has something for everyone, and it’s hard to imagine there will be many families who don’t get swept up in King’s magic.