Review of Paddington (2014) by Jrossreviews — 15 Oct 2017

JordanRossReviews: PADDINGTON – 9/10.

Rating: PG | Family Friendly: All Ages | How to Stream: Netflix.

“If you or your family are looking for a happy and fun movie to enjoy, go watch Paddington.” A young Peruvian bear with a passionJordanRossReviews: PADDINGTON – 9/10.

Rating: PG | Family Friendly: All Ages | How to Stream: Netflix.

“If you or your family are looking for a happy and fun movie to enjoy, go watch Paddington.”.

A young Peruvian bear with a passion for all things British travels to London in search of a home. Finding himself lost and alone at Paddington Station, he begins to realize that city life is not all he had imagined - until he meets the kind Brown family, who read the label around his neck ('Please look after this bear. Thank you.') and offer him a temporary haven. It looks as though his luck has changed until this rarest of bears catches the eye of a museum taxidermist.

Review:

This movie has a special place in my heart. I had never heard of Paddington before I watched this film, but I can understand now why Paddington is such a treasure in England. What really won me over was how the story was so warm and loving. Although the main character was an animated talking bear named Paddington, I felt connected with his journey and didn’t want it to end. It reminded me of the good in people and how fun life can be.

This was a warm and heartfelt film from start to finish. The story was well written and the jokes spot on. I laughed harder than I expected and it's one that I could watch over and over again. Ben Whishaw as the voice of Paddington was truly perfect. I really enjoyed the innocence of the character and how he portrayed that through his voice. The animation was great, never distracting from the story. The other performance that stood out to me was Hugh Bonneville. I thought his role as the over-protective father – Mr. Brown – was superbly acted and his interaction with an animated character very impressive. Another element I liked was the soundtrack. A lot of the upbeat light-hearted tracks went well with the story. London Is The Place For Me, was an obvious fit which now reminds me solely of this movie, plus I found that it stuck in my head for a long time after. Along with the music the sets were memorable as well. From the wonderful antique shop run by Mr. Gruber (Jim Broadbent) to the home where the Brown’s lived. I also thought the moments in which director Paul King spied in on the characters through the dollhouse was a creative and nice touch. It’s really hard for me to go after this film for much considering how I fell in love with it, but it was not perfect. Nicole Kidman’s character Millicent was a bit over-the-top and not what I considered the best fit for the story. Her acting wasn’t the issue for me, but more the character herself. The wardrobe and intensity threw me off from the rest of the film, although I did like the antagonist as a taxidermist. Another odd point was the transformation of Mr. Brown near the end of the movie. I enjoyed seeing his character open up and change his way of thinking, but it seemed almost too drastic of a switch.

I originally watched this film when it first released but I re-watched it now with my girlfriend who happens to be six months pregnant. We both enjoyed it as much as I did the first time. When I think about our son who will be joining us soon, this is one movie that I know I’m excited to eventually sit down and share with him. If you and your family are looking for a happy and fun movie to enjoy, go watch Paddington. It lifted my spirits and really left me inspired. Paddington 2 releases this year and I can’t wait to revisit my favorite bear in London.