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Paddington (2014)



Paddington (2014)



7/10



Starring
Hugh Bonneville
Sally Hawkins
Julie Walters
Jim Broadbent
Ben Whishaw as the voice of Paddington


Directed by Paul King


Regardless of the lackluster performance of the children in the movie, the film was spectacular. The adult actors were on point and delivered the fun needed to make you love this movie from beginning to end. The comedy was warm-hearted and innocent—I couldn’t help but wish I could sit back and ask the controller to roll the movie again.

It is not all the time you get to watch a movie that just sits well with you. It is not the best movie in the world, but it sits well.

When I was younger and reading the picture book, I don’t recall much being said about Paddington’s backstory or origins. The decision by the screenwriters to give Paddington more depth was a great addition. The movie is based on Paddington Bear by Michael Bond. Paddington is a friendly bear from deepest, darkest Peru, who wears an old hat and carries a battered suitcase. He’s polite and well-mannered, but when he’s cross with you, he gives you a hard stare. He was adopted by the Browns, who named him Paddington after the train station where he was found.

The thing about Paddington is that trouble always seems to find him, and this movie is no exception. Paddington goes home with the Browns, only to be hunted by Millicent Clyde, who wants to kill and stuff him for display. Paddington isn’t doing so well with the Browns either, struggling to fit into a lifestyle filled with gadgets, baths, and toothbrushes.

Watching this movie made me reminisce about my younger days with Paddington. I had the book and watched the cartoon series, and I was never tired of the bear who loved marmalade. Because of Paddington, I tried marmalade, but I never grew to love it as much as he did.

The loose ends in Paddington are pretty glaring, though you might miss them if you’re too caught up in the performances and the wonderful CGI:

  • Paddington’s aunt left him to fend for himself—or, to put it more bluntly, abandoned him.
  • She went away without saying where she was going, yet Paddington kept sending her letters.

The writers will need to tie up these loose ends if they make a sequel, which I’m sure they’re considering, thanks to the financial success of this movie. Paddington Bear is waiting for you to buy a ticket or DVD and see him stand out as he becomes a beloved member of the Browns family.

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