Paddington (PG.)
Directed by Paul King.
Starring Hugh Bonneville. Sally Hawkins, Julie Walters, Peter Capaldi, Nicole Kidman and Ben Whishaw. 95 mins
We are always a little fearful when the English try to make a big budget film entertainment. Much like when the team heads off to a World Cup, we hope for glory, but have learned to expect bitter disappointment. This adaptation of Michael Bond's beloved children's character had seemed particularly ill-starred. The CGI bear didn't look right; Nicole Kidman was in it and in July Ben Whishaw replaced Colin Firth as the voice of the bear. Paddington though isn't merely much better than expected, it's genuinely good, a family film that is both imaginative and entertaining.
They play it like a modern day Mary Poppins with The Shard and The London Eye figuring prominently in a spruced up, fantasy version of London. After arriving from darkest Peru, the talking bear ends up being taken in and named by the Browns. Once ensconced in their Notting Hill Edwardian terraced town house he starts to bring the family back together and loosen up the slightly pompous father (Bonneville) who is in danger of losing all connections with his family.
The film's success is down primarily to boldly giving a relatively untested talent his head. Writer/ director Paul King previous credits were directing The Mighty Boosh TV series and the movie Bunny and The Bull. He has a lovely visual sense that suggests a more playful, fluffier version of Gilliam or Burton but also comes up with plenty of funny lines. The basis of the film – a straightforward slapstick caper with evil taxidermist Nicole Kidman trying to capture and stuff him – may be a little too strident for purists but onto that King crafts lots of a little whimsical and magical touches that are truly enchanting. The cast are also all top notch, especially Hawkins as Mrs Brown. A lot of family films tend to have an almost segregated approach to humour: these are for the kids, these are for the grown ups. Paddington pleases all ages in a more inclusive way; some jokes may flutter a little over children's head but never so far that the brighter ones can't reach for them.
Directed by Paul King.
Starring Hugh Bonneville. Sally Hawkins, Julie Walters, Peter Capaldi, Nicole Kidman and Ben Whishaw. 95 mins
We are always a little fearful when the English try to make a big budget film entertainment. Much like when the team heads off to a World Cup, we hope for glory, but have learned to expect bitter disappointment. This adaptation of Michael Bond's beloved children's character had seemed particularly ill-starred. The CGI bear didn't look right; Nicole Kidman was in it and in July Ben Whishaw replaced Colin Firth as the voice of the bear. Paddington though isn't merely much better than expected, it's genuinely good, a family film that is both imaginative and entertaining.
They play it like a modern day Mary Poppins with The Shard and The London Eye figuring prominently in a spruced up, fantasy version of London. After arriving from darkest Peru, the talking bear ends up being taken in and named by the Browns. Once ensconced in their Notting Hill Edwardian terraced town house he starts to bring the family back together and loosen up the slightly pompous father (Bonneville) who is in danger of losing all connections with his family.
The film's success is down primarily to boldly giving a relatively untested talent his head. Writer/ director Paul King previous credits were directing The Mighty Boosh TV series and the movie Bunny and The Bull. He has a lovely visual sense that suggests a more playful, fluffier version of Gilliam or Burton but also comes up with plenty of funny lines. The basis of the film – a straightforward slapstick caper with evil taxidermist Nicole Kidman trying to capture and stuff him – may be a little too strident for purists but onto that King crafts lots of a little whimsical and magical touches that are truly enchanting. The cast are also all top notch, especially Hawkins as Mrs Brown. A lot of family films tend to have an almost segregated approach to humour: these are for the kids, these are for the grown ups. Paddington pleases all ages in a more inclusive way; some jokes may flutter a little over children's head but never so far that the brighter ones can't reach for them.
