In the deep jungles of Peru live a species of bear who are highly intelligent and love marmalade. Their only contact with the human world came forty years ago, when a genial British explorer stumbled across them.
After an earthquake destroys the home of one such family of bears, the youngest member is sent to London to make a new life for himself.
Paddington is a fun, super cute family film. It has a cheerful sense of humour and nails a number of good laughs in its breezy 90 minutes or so of runtime. It leavens these humorous (mis)adventures with a few more sad and poignant elements, as well, but generally manages to find some wry chuckles even in the more sombre moments.
The script isn't just funny, it is also smart. In particular, it does a great job of introducing concepts - such as Paddington's difficulties operating modern appliances such as vacuum cleaners - that initially seem to just be humorous filler, but which actually have significant pay-off in the plot. It's a very tidy piece of work indeed, and I really enjoyed seeing those "throwaway gags" turning out to be anything but throwaway.
The film also profits a lot from its fine cast. Paddington's voice actor is spot on, and the Brown family are all very engaging, while Peter Capaldi and Nicole Kidman both seem to be having a ball in their more adversarial roles.
Paddington is fine family entertainment. Recommended.
There, he meets the Brown family. Mrs Brown - much to the chagrin of Mr Brown, a highly risk averse individual - not only gives the young bear a human name (Paddington, obviously) but also offers to let him stay with them for the night. The next morning, the plan is to try and track down the explorer who previously met the bears. Perhaps he can provide Paddington with a more permanent home.
But forty years have gone by, and the world has changed. Paddington's search may bring him to the attention of people with sinister intentions. Can a well-intentioned but rather naïve young bear really find a home in the big, modern city?
Paddington is a fun, super cute family film. It has a cheerful sense of humour and nails a number of good laughs in its breezy 90 minutes or so of runtime. It leavens these humorous (mis)adventures with a few more sad and poignant elements, as well, but generally manages to find some wry chuckles even in the more sombre moments.
The script isn't just funny, it is also smart. In particular, it does a great job of introducing concepts - such as Paddington's difficulties operating modern appliances such as vacuum cleaners - that initially seem to just be humorous filler, but which actually have significant pay-off in the plot. It's a very tidy piece of work indeed, and I really enjoyed seeing those "throwaway gags" turning out to be anything but throwaway.
The film also profits a lot from its fine cast. Paddington's voice actor is spot on, and the Brown family are all very engaging, while Peter Capaldi and Nicole Kidman both seem to be having a ball in their more adversarial roles.
Paddington is fine family entertainment. Recommended.
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