Paddington (2014)

"Bear"-able Lightness of Being

When I walked out of Paul King's big screen adaptation of the children's book, "Paddington", I only had one word floating in my head: magical! King wrote and directed a marvelous tale about misfits, family, and that wondrous place we call home. From its first scene, a mock 1940's news reel of a British explorer's trip to the Peruvian Jungle, to its heart-melting conclusion, it maintains a light humor with a few gut-busting laughs, and some great physical gags. The story does become a but formulaic, but it tends to rise above it with great writing, and even greater heart. 

Sally Hawkins and Hugh Bonneville are pure joy as the parents of the Brown family, a family who takes Paddington in. Bonneville is excellently authoritative, and Sally Hawkins is sweet and fun-loving without being over-bearing or annoying. Peter Capaldi is a lot fun as the snooping neighbor, and Nicole Kidman does a serviceable job as the taxidermist trying to catch our hero, to add to her collection. The film is anchored perfectly by the animated bear, voiced by Ben Whishaw (Q from "Skyfall"), who is lovable and naive, and just too adorable for words. This movie has some stumbles, but King's excellent artistic choices, and sharp humor, more than make up for anything slightly worth mentioning.

Grade: A-

3D: N/A

Easter Egg: No

Starring: Ben Whishaw, Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins

Director: Paul King

Writer(s): Paul King (also Screen Story with Hamish McColl) - Character: Michael Bond

RT: 95 min

Rating: PG for mild action and rude humor