7/10

“Paddington” is the family film event of the season. The cold weather that makes it’s presence felt this time of the year will feel harmless with the heartwarming moral compass of a message so strong. “Paddington” is the feature film adaptation from the best selling children’s books written by Michael Bond. It tells the story of the comic misadventures of a young Peruvian bear (voiced by Ben Whishaw) who travels to the city in search of a home. Finding himself lost and alone, he begins to realize that city life is not all he had imagined, until he meets the open armed Brown family who read the label around his neck that says “Please look after this bear. Thank you,”. They offer him a temporary home, and it looks as though his luck has changed until this rarest of bears catches the eye of a museum taxidermist (Nicole Kidman) who is hot on his trail. All plots aside, “Paddington” is a story about finding your own place in a world that always seems bigger when you leave your safe zone. One of the purest things i found refreshing about this film was that this English city treats Paddington like one of them. He is never frowned upon for being a bear living amongst humans, nor do they ever question his failures to adapt to such a place. The reaction and setting of England is something that feels like a love letter to it’s colorful location. There is a certain look about this film that feels like it’s ripped from the pages of a children’s novel perhaps better than i have ever seen before. It’s not as over the top as “The Cat in the Hat”, or “The Grinch Stole Christmas”, but more classy on a level of less is more. It’s rare that i come out of a children’s movie anymore feeling that lesson that this film makes the world a better place, but this one sent that message to me loud and clear. The cast is excellently led by Whishaw’s voicework. Colin Firth was originally cast as the voice, but soaring production costs and a busy schedule for Colin led him to turn down the project. When i heard of such troubles, i was worried on who would pick up the ball with the audio charm of Firth. I knew Wishaw from 2012’s “Skyfall”, but i didn’t know how he would do with such an opposite voicing role to that of Q. Within the film’s opening minutes, that concern became non existent. The best kind of voice work is always transforming yourself into the character who you undertake, and Wishaw hit the mark tenfold. His best work in my opinion is that of the grunting and groaning of Paddington while learning about American culture. The famous bathroom scene played in the trailers had me laughing even though i have seen it around 50 times.  The magic of Hugh Bonneville and Sally Hawkins give an authentic banter as a married husband and wife duo who serve as pro and anti Paddington supporters. Bonneville’s comedic timing is a product of over two decades in English acting. It’s in those comedic talents that Hugh turns in his best performance. He plays off of the CGI bear with a straight man routine that gives fresh reactions to an old conflict between two such characters. Whenever i watch a movie where the central character has to be added post production, i always run into one of two problems. The human actor is either too over the top, or plays second fiddle to the CGI character. I am relieved that “Paddington” didn’t fall under such a curse.  Kidman is a little over the top as the movie’s central antagonist, but when the big reveal sheds light on her motivations during the third act, her emotional distance is perhaps a little more understood. I don’t feel like this film absolutely needed a villain character, but it’s easily Kidman’s best ACTING work in five years. The design of Paddington’s CGI design is something that is done subtly exceptional. It’s best to make a character like this feel like he is blending in with the real life actors he is interacting with, and that ability is well represented. The emotional response from Paddington is something i felt on every level with every emotion being well represented. I laughed, i hurt, and even almost cried at certain scenes where you feel Paddington unaware of such big surroundings around him. The script is written and directed by long time director, Paul King, who turns in his first directing work in five years. His passion towards the subject is definitely showcased in a script that stays faithful to fans of the books, while also giving the character a modern twist that never disappoints. The film is only 83 minutes long, but i think any longer would’ve started to break open the flaws of the film (Not many) within the direction of the film with two much happening too soon. Pehaps the film’s best trait is the childhood innocence of anyone who has ever had a Teddy Bear and an imagination to create such stories. “Paddington” is the first surprise for a loaded 2015 that has some of my most anticipated films of the decade. Even eleven months later when i am counting down my best films of the year, this one will be remembered for the melting of icicles it did for a critic that has dismissed so many children’s book adaptations. “Paddington” is a triumph that should be celebrated by the whole family.