Paddington is a child’s movie for people obsessed with the UK. Words such as proper, manners, and dignity are major parts of the story. As such, Paddington is a charming, harmless family movie to be enjoyed by brothers, sisters, mothers, and fathers. But not taxidermists.
Paddington (voice of Ben Whishaw) is a bear who travels to England at the behest of his Aunt Lucy (voice of Imelda Staunton) and Uncle Pastuzo (voice of Michael Gambon). In England, Paddington stays with the Brown family until he finds a real home. Mother Mary (Sally Hawkins) and son Jonathan (Samuel Joslin) like Paddington immediately, but daughter Judy (Madeleine Harris) and especially dad Henry (Hugh Bonneville) take some deep convincing. In addition, a creepy taxidermist (Nicole Kidman) craves to put Paddington into her museum earlier than the bear would like.
Whimsical is the best way to describe Paddington’s tone. Tightly wound Brits are always good for a laugh, and Henry’s fear at Paddington’s presence generates the biggest adult laughs, especially when putting the bear on his insurance. Pratfalls win the kids over; it is funny watching Paddington use an elevator. No matter how dark or sad the story got, the script stays light to not scare the kids in the audience: Nicole Kidman’s character is more of a cartoon than Paddington, showcasing spy skills that every museum curator wishes they had. The breezy British style let’s the story zip bye happily, so as to not overstay its welcome: it would be rude.
The message is also pretty simple, but very effective for an audience: families stick together and support each other. Henry’s fears come because he wants to keep his kids safe, not out of prejudice. The family gets better when everyone starts to learn from one another, supporting each other’s endeavors in the process. What makes the climax so fun is how it utilizes each of the family member’s strengths to succeed. The Brown family realizes that Paddington triggered the outpouring of love, and their devotion to the bear delivers some sweet moments.
Colin Firth was supposed to voice Paddington, but he dropped out, and Ben Whishaw took his place. Personally, that move makes the movie better than it has to be. There is an elegant tenderness to Whishaw’s voice that makes Paddington instantly cuddly and likable. Whishaw plays well off of Hugh Bonneville, who can play appalled Brit in his sleep. Sally Hawkins is radiant as ever as Mary; she’s the secret sauce of Paddington. Madeleine Harris and Samuel Joslin don’t get enough to do, but they are cute. Julie Walters and Peter Capaldi are really funny as the Brown’s elder relative and neighbor respectively. Nicole Kidman is requisitely loopy as the obsessed taxidermist. Finally, Michael Gambon and Imelda Staunton set the proper charmed tone as Paddington’s elders.
Paddington is pure family entertainment. Kids and adults alike will smile at the joy and simple happiness onscreen. Bears with manners is such an inherently funny concept; who wouldn’t at least be mildly amused?