2014, StudioCanal
Live action
Rating: PG
Approx. 92 mins.
THE STORY:
Paddington, the talking bear, leaves Darkest Peru for London when his idyllic home and family are ripped apart in an earthquake. His family's meeting with a British explorer years before he was born left them with the ability to speak the Queen's English, the impression that the British are a kind and generous race, and a big floppy hat.
Paddington arrives at Paddington train station in need of a home, only to find that Londoners are not as welcoming and polite as he had anticipated. Much to the chagrin of her risk-analyst husband (Hugh Bonneville) and awkwardly teenage daughter, free-spirited Mrs. Brown takes pity on Paddington and invites him back to their home for the night.
Despite some bumps along the way, one night turns into forever after Paddington and his new family manage to thwart the efforts of a mysterious evil taxidermist (Nicole Kidman) to kill and stuff Paddington for display in a natural history museum.
Paddington arrives at Paddington train station in need of a home, only to find that Londoners are not as welcoming and polite as he had anticipated. Much to the chagrin of her risk-analyst husband (Hugh Bonneville) and awkwardly teenage daughter, free-spirited Mrs. Brown takes pity on Paddington and invites him back to their home for the night.
Despite some bumps along the way, one night turns into forever after Paddington and his new family manage to thwart the efforts of a mysterious evil taxidermist (Nicole Kidman) to kill and stuff Paddington for display in a natural history museum.
QUESTIONABLE LANGUAGE:
- nothing significant
VIOLENCE:
- Paddington's uncle is killed (off screen) in an earthquake
- a monkey is almost killed by a taxidermist
- the taxidermist's office is shown to be filled with stuffed and mounted animals
- the villain shoots tranquilizer darts at Paddington and others
TEACHING POINTS:
- Some risks are worth taking
- Have the courage to be open to new things
THE UPSHOT:
Truth be told, the six year-old in the theatre was there more for my benefit than her own. I grew up loving Paddington and still, after all these years, smart at the fact I never got a Paddington doll. Luckily, the film was funny, clever, exciting and absolutely charming enough to engage both of us.
The film builds on the original book to provide a context and coherence to the story which is completely new but also very respectful of the original text. The script also updates details in the original in a way that keeps the story relevant, but stays close to the old story. And the animation is phenomenal-- after about 5 minutes both the adult and the 6 year-old in the theatre completely forgot we weren't watching a real bear.
My only criticism would be the ominous scenes involving the taxidermist: nothing happens on screen, but the threat, and past examples, are very present. In the end no one, even the anti-hero, is harmed, but there are a couple of scenes along the way that could be upsetting for more sensitive viewers.
The film builds on the original book to provide a context and coherence to the story which is completely new but also very respectful of the original text. The script also updates details in the original in a way that keeps the story relevant, but stays close to the old story. And the animation is phenomenal-- after about 5 minutes both the adult and the 6 year-old in the theatre completely forgot we weren't watching a real bear.
My only criticism would be the ominous scenes involving the taxidermist: nothing happens on screen, but the threat, and past examples, are very present. In the end no one, even the anti-hero, is harmed, but there are a couple of scenes along the way that could be upsetting for more sensitive viewers.
4.5/5
No comments:
Post a Comment