Paddington (2014) review - Movie Thoughts (Chapter 20) 🍯

 Hello everyone,

Today's film was simply too much fun. Tooth rotting sweetness and the absolute cutest! I'm annoyed it took me 6 years to experience the joy that is a movie about everyone's favourite bear in a blue toggle-button raincoat....

(**disclaimer: the following thoughts are 100% my opinion, you do not have to agree with them - film is inherently subjective and everyone's perspective is valid! Also, there are probably spoilers in the following, read at your own risk. Now onto some thoughts....**)

Source: IMDB

Fun, warm and full of charming British soul for the whole family, the infamous bear in the blue raincoat is back with crazy new adventures. After a young bear who can walk and talk sneaks across the sea from the jungles of Peru to the streets of London, he is taken in by the quirky Brown family. Hijinks ensue when Paddington attempts to find the mysterious explorer who taught him all his British-isms. With the fabulous Ben Whishaw stepping into the titular character’s voicebox, director Paul King’s film was hilarious, full of warmth and dashed around picturesque London sights.

King has produced a reboot of a children’s literature classic that was witty and charming without trying too hard to be adorable. It maintained the nostalgic childlike wonder for those who grew up with him, but was also exciting and accessible for new kids, big and small, to enjoy together with their parents. Much of the film’s humour and charm was frightfully British, yet there was this feeling of making old-timey ‘poshness’ fun again. There was plenty of joking about the seemingly silly manners Brits are known for, but there’s also something sweet in the quaint dumbness of it all. It was an interesting contrast between Paddington’s immaculate British-ness and the digitally savvy modern Brits who shoved people running for the train. No wonder Paddington was a peach given the kind-hearted character of bears Aunt Lucy (Imelda Stanton) and Uncle Pastuzo (Michael Gambon); and the immediate normalcy of walking and talking bears existing in the world allowed audiences to quickly move on and appreciate the sweetness of everything else that happened.

With a witty and hilarious script also crafted by King, there were plenty of heartwarming moments without overdoing the sincerity. All of the dialogue and emotional development felt genuine, and the film’s pace never slowed down or got boring. This manifestation of London did take whimsical liberties left, right and centre, but it’s a fantastical space that allowed Paddington to fit right in whilst also learning that things have changed from the time of expeditions to faraway lands and everyone being socially obligated to wear a hat.

Visually, this film was reminiscent of a kinetic storybook. Beyond a typical static geographic backdrop, the wonder of discovery is fundamentally embodied in little caveats of unrealistic but abstract moving sequences. The dollhouse graphics were used as a gorgeous vessel for exposition with wit and concise vibrancy; thus enhancing the stupendous way Paddington sees this world. Conversely, the Natural History Museum is made to look like a dark cathedral prison as the shadow-filled lair of antagonist taxidermy enthusiast Millicent (Nicole Kidman). Although a popular setting for films of all genres, King worked hard to breathe a new and whimsically light air into these well-known landmarks as settings for some intense shenanigans. In particular, the chain reaction sequences that rapidly cause chaos but inadvertently cause Paddington to save the day were beautiful to watch.

The heart and soul of this film is the charms of Paddington himself. A bear with a worrying marmalade addiction, impeccable manners and a fondness for writing letters in the 21st Century; his desire to simply be accepted and have a home was simply heart-melting. Whishaw’s unique combination of youthful exuberance and peak British clean tones was a brilliant voice performance, and the CGI animation of his presence on screen fit right in. Hilariously clumsy and always stumbling into trouble, his journey and the impact he has on the Brown’s was such joy to watch unfold.

The other winning combination was the chemistry of the eccentric Brown family. Risk analyst father Henry (Hugh Bonneville), eccentric illustrator/collector mother Mary (Sally Hawkins), supersmart moody teenage daughter Judy (Madeleine Harris), and ingenious sassy son Jonathan (Samuel Joslin) all clicked together in quite an endearing manner.  In fact, the entire ensemble cast was fabulously earnest and made the intricacies of their characters blossom. Delightful antique shopowner Mr. Gruber (Jim Broadbent), creepy street grump Mr. Curry (Peter Capaldi) and the ballsy housekeeper Mrs. Bird (Julie Walters) were particularly interesting additions.

Perhaps the only wobble was Kidman’s average performance as the villain. Although she nailed the look with a knife-straight blonde bob and plenty of animal print, her presence felt rather awkward on screen. Her motivation and backstory was cleverly structured in the script, but the delivery of her dialogue and mannerisms at times strayed too close to the line of being unbelievably cheesy.

Paddington was the perfect blend of classic and new, with family adventures displayed in lively and colourful filmmaking. The enchanting bear in a blue raincoat and red hat initially created by Michael Bond gained a new lease on life with an adaptation that doesn’t diminish his British charms, but rather hammed them up in the best way possible.

8.5/10, 4 STARS

Thanks for reading,

Love and pots of marmalade, Emily 🍯