Utilizing the sheer innocence and naivete that comes with childhood, Paul King has created a memorable family classic with his feature directing debut Paddington.
Based on the characters originated by Michael Bond in 1958, King crafts a story that is part adventure, part comedy. And while a few plot points will likely go unnoticed by the very young, the miraculous teddy bear that is Paddington will make all things right in the end as the story strikes an even balance between adolescence and maturity.
From start to finish, the film fluidly combines the world of animation with that of live action. From the onset, you are greeted with a marvelous landscape of witty banter, laugh-out-loud gags and a truly adorable protagonist. It's hard not to sit back and marvel at the sheer enjoyment.
Paddington tells of the hilarious misadventures of a young Peruvian bear who travels to the big city in search of a new home. But things don't go quite like he was expecting and he quickly finds himself lost and alone in the middle of a train station. That is, until he meets the Brown family, a kind hearted clan that offers him a temporary solution just as he catches the eye of a museum taxidermist with a hidden agenda.
While the cast is flawless from top to bottom, Paddington really succeeds on its story and stylistic tone. Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Julie Walters and Nicole Kidman each give credible performances, embracing both the story and King's vision; however, it is the film's ability to stay lighthearted and whimsical that really sets it apart from the rest.
The mishaps that Paddington faces during his stay with the Browns can be a bit cliché. But King delvers them in such a playful manner that it is hard to harp on them for long. The cute and cuddly bear makes you a fan from the moment you lay eyes on him. His hardships are dramatic, but his triumph makes for a delightful conclusion.
It's hard to deny the charm and charisma that lives within the iconic bear. And fortunately for movie fans, those qualities have transcended to the big screen, offering up a fun, entertaining and relevant moralistic lesson that in the end, kindness can reign supreme. Sometimes it just takes a bear to make us all stand up and notice.
