If you have small children or grew up with a family member who loved reading you bedtime stories, chances are you’ve heard of Paddington. The grizzly little hurricane from Peru first appeared in print 56 years ago and now, he’s finally made his Hollywood debut.
From Harry Potter director David Heyman, Paddington the film revisits the children’s classic, weaving a tale of an accident-prone, marmalade-loving clumsy little bear in his signature red hat who can think and talk just fine but has a knack for getting into all kinds of trouble. It was a fun, vibrant tale full of adventure, comedy and heart in book form and it hasn’t lost any sense of that childhood wonder in its jump to the big screen.
If Paddington feels distinctly foreign, that’s because it is. The tale is an import from England and it’s the bear’s journey from his native Peru to Paddington Station (for which he is subsequently named) in London that kicks off our curious little hero’s journey. In search of a home and new family after an earthquake spearates him from his old one, Paddington soon finds the Brown family, or more aptly, they find him. Mrs. Brown, a quirky artist, Mr. Brown, an uptight risk analyst and their two children invite Paddington into their home with disastrous results (he surfs a bathtub down the stairs. uses toothbrushes as Q-tips and sets the kitchen on fire). Despite all of this (and Mr. Brown’s serious misgivings on housing a dangerous animal) the family attempts to help Paddington find a British explorer who once visited his home and offered his family a place to stay if they ever visited jolly old England.
Mishaps, misunderstandings, and danger (an evil taxidermist set on stuffing the poor young bear in her natural history museum!) are all featured in the film, as are the themes of love and acceptance and the fact that sometimes, you’re lucky enough to get to choose your family.
The film is made with state of the art animation and an impressive cast of voice and on-screen actors, incuding Nicole Kidman whose turn as the vamped up museum worker is deliciously fun, if not a bit dark for the youngest of audiences.
Paddington is a story of adventure and curiosity and it has a great lesson to teach both children and adults who see it this holiday season.
Paddington hits theaters Jan. 16.
