Director: Paul King
Cast: Ben Whishaw, Sally Hawkins, Nicole Kidman, Hugh Bonneville, Julie Walters, Peter Capaldi
Rating: ***1/2
What it's about: A rare marmalade-loving talking Peruvian bear, escapes to London to find a new home, after his own gets wrecked in an earthquake. This bear, an orphan living with his uncle and aunt finds himself, by and by at Paddington station, trying to get the attention of someone who will take care of him and help him find a home. And he does, when the Browns stroll along, and Mrs Brown invites him home, Mr Brown, a risk analyst, is none too happy, but lets him in anyway. A series of freak accidents later, this bear now named Paddington (after the station where he was found) is all alone again, left to fend for himself. Will he ever find a home?
What's hot: One has to admit, having Nicole Kidman for a villain was a brilliant idea. And in this age of do-everything-yourself villains, she fits right in. As the scheming taxidermist after Paddington's hide (quite literally, might we add), she almost gets her way. Whishaw, who voices the CG-animated Paddington, is a charmer. But it is Bonneville, as the initially reluctant but once-upon-a-time reckless Mr Brown, who steals the show. Going to the extent of dressing up in drag to find out why there is no mention of Paddington's family's discovery in the Peruvian jungle (it had been struck from record), he plays devoted patriarch to a fault. He's quite possibly, the beating heart of the film.
What's not: One wishes there was more back-and-forth between Paddington and his taxidermist nemesis Millicent (Kidman). Also, it's highly unlikely that a family of four - two parents and two kids - would take home a real live well-mannered (at the outset at least) talking bear and treat it as an ordinary thing. The stretch of imagination stretches further thin, when he's on the streets and nobody really seems to see anything amiss - a bear walking around. London really must be that disinterested. They get all kinds, we imagine.
What to do: Paddington's likeable and we'd like to see more of him. But next time, a little less conversation, a little more action please, maybe?
