Paddington

stuff the taxidermist
Nicole Kidman plays Millicent, a sinister taxidermist who has her eye on Paddington

Grin and bear it. PADDINGTON is the best teddy bear picture since Ted.

Kudos in the cute and cuddly big screen adaptation of Michael Bond’s beloved creation must go to writer/director Paul King who has not only written a very funny screenplay but assembled a brilliant cast and a superlative crew.

The cast of PADDINGTON is led by acclaimed British talent, Ben Whishaw, who has gone from Keats to Q and is now the voice of Paddington, and what an evocative vocalisation it is, perfectly pitched to the pictorial presentation and emotional characterisation.

Audiences who haven’t ice running through their veins and have a pulse will already have melted at the appearance of Paddington, and Wishaw’s versatile ventriloquism renders the character complete.

Hugh Bonneville of TV’s Downton Abbey is terrific as uptight patriarch Mr. Brown and Sally Hawkins is quietly quirky kooky as the kindly and free-spirited Mrs. Brown, the papa and mama who rescue the Peruvian ursa minor with the major personality from Paddington Station.

Starring alongside them is Nicole Kidman as Millicent, a sinister taxidermist with her eye on Paddington, her mild mannered malevolent mantra, “You’re stuffed, Bear” a maniacal motif.

Super luvvies come to the fore of the four pawed comedy of manners and marmalade, with Jim Broadbent as Mr. Gruber, antique shop owner and wise mentor, Julie Walters as Mrs. Bird, the Browns’ eccentric housekeeper, and Michael Gambon and Imelda Staunton as the voices of Paddington’s Uncle Pastuzo and Aunt Lucy.

Rounding out this Who’s who of thespian thoroughbreds, Peter Capaldi has a carry on cameo as Mr. Curry, their crotchety, curtain-twitching neighbour.

Every detail of the way Paddington looks, speaks and moves is of paramount importance if an audience is to successfully engage with the bear, and entertaining and endearing engagement is one of the chief attributes of this beautifully crafted film.

Andy Kind (VFX and CG Supervisor) and Pablo Grillo, (Animation Director), along with the huge VFX team at Framestore, have been responsible for creating such fantastical characters as Dobby the House Elf and the Hippogriffs in the Harry Potter series, and have superbly realised “the look” of Paddington.

PADDINGTON opened across 520 sites in the UK on the last weekend of November boasting a screen average of £9,889.00 and a weekend total of £5,112,425. The politest bear from Peru is number 1 at the UK box office, beating Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1, – an incredible result.

Charming beyond belief, PADDINGTON is a perfect holiday movie, once embraced, you’ll want to hug it. Grin and bear it!