Paddington

When I was in middle school, we performed some skits based on "Paddington" and I played the part of Jonathan. From what I can tell by just watching the movie, the filmmakers knew how beloved this character and his adventures are. They did not want to ruin Paddington for the new generation of fans or let down his faithful followers. I was surprised that this movie was so well received by critics but not anymore now that I have seen it myself. There is not only a lovable charm that "Paddington" emanates but the movie is also pretty funny. This show won't just entertain kids.

The beginning of the movie is very well done and appears to have been given the attention that all exposition needs. In order for the whole film to work, you have to be able to accept the talking bears and their way of life. This movie creates a believable origin for Paddington's ability to talk in a live action world and why he is British. The heart of the movie is introduced very early as we see Uncle Pastuzo, Aunt Lucy and Paddington living in darkest Peru. The sense of wonder creates a strong attachment to this family of bears. The use of the earthquake as the inciting incident creates such pity for Paddington that the humor of the film has something to balance with. Thankfully, the comedy was very genuine and therefore the movie was quite funny. I always wondered if guards at Buckingham Palace stored anything in their hats. The design of the movie is very colorful and appealing. Windsor Gardens reminds me a lot of Cherry Tree Lane from "Mary Poppins". The hue however is toned down for the scene when the Brown family reads the note from Paddington after he left. The movie stays very true to the books by including such moments as hard stares. I really enjoyed the chase with the pickpocket. I was waiting for the scene when Paddington gets his blue coat and I really applaud the back-story it has been given. It makes the coat all the more iconic. During my second viewing, I almost teared up at certain moments such as when Paddington gets his name. Speaking of back-stories, the flashbacks for all the human characters are very well depicted. My favorite is the Browns before and just after the birth of Judy. Another great flashback concerns Millicent because it shows what Montgomery Clyde sacrificed to protect the bears. The climax is exciting and may seem a little childish but you can't expect anything too dark and frightening from a movie staring Paddington.

All the actors in this film have impressive resumes. As some people might already know, Colin Firth was supposed to be the voice of Paddington but the reason for the change was that everyone including Firth working on the movie realized that his voice was wrong for the character. I remember that change during the marketing of the film. I think that Ben Whishaw's voice and performance was perfect. The character change of Mr. Brown was well done thanks to Hugh Bonneville from "Downton Abbey". I also like the performance of Sally Hawkins. She brought so much heart to the role of Mrs. Brown. Because David Heyman is producing this film, one shouldn't be too surprised with all the Harry Potter actors who appear in "Paddington". They include Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Michael Gambon and Imelda Staunton. Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman provides the film with a villain that is very appropriate for this genre. The author of the original book, Michael Bond, has a cameo as a "Kindly Gentleman" by the way. I have seen two movies from screenwriter Hamish McColl previous to "Paddington" and I enjoyed them just as much as this movie. Both happen to be Rowan Atkinson films and they were both sequels as well: "Mr. Bean's Holiday" and "Johnny English Reborn". The special effects were just as important as the exposition at the start of the film. The CGI blended really well with the design of the movie and was realistic.

This was the best live action family film I saw in 2014 because of its heart. The humor is well executed on screen also. Because of how well done this movie is overall and with its help of its sequel, the legacy of Paddington will continue. He will also have a new fan base for those in North American who were unfamiliar with him previously. The appeal of "Paddington" may not be understandable before you see the movie but afterwards, it is clear.

4 Stars