What headline-grabbing scandals have attended the return of Paddington Bear! First, there was his conscious uncoupling from Colin Firth (too old, apparently); next came Nicole Kidman’s announcement that his new movie was too scary for her kids; then outrage as the censors slapped a PG-rating on scenes of innuendo, dangerous behaviour, and extreme marmalade. Now, perhaps most shockingly, comes the revelation that a 21st-century computer-generated big-screen bear can be every bit as endearingly entertaining as his 70s TV stop-motion counterpart. Paddington’s creator, Michael Bond, says he “slept soundly” after seeing the new movie, and those in search of a family-friendly festive film treat will doubtless do the same.
Abandoning darkest Peru after an earthquake, our diminutive hero arrives in London where he proceeds to wreak healing havoc in the home of the Browns; uptight dad Henry (Hugh Bonneville), vivacious mum, Mary (Sally Hawkins), and troubled kids in need of some bear-based bonding. Nicole Kidman’s trigger-happy taxidermist Millicent has other plans, however, seducing creepy neighbour Mr Curry (a splendidly sniffy Peter Capaldi) into helping her steal and stuff the new arrival. It’s terrifically good-hearted fare, painting a colourful portrait of London as a multicultural melting pot with a just a hint of old school Poppins charm.
The jokes are good too, ranging from laugh-out-loud observations about the transformative effects of parenthood (and knowing mentions of “exotic wrestlers”) to slapstick bathroom episodes. Ben Whishaw turns out to be the perfect voice of Paddington (sorry, Colin), his lilting diction at once childlike and wise, his delivery naive yet oddly noble. “Please look after this bear”, says the tag around Paddington’s neck. Rest assured, they have.
