Film Review: Paddington

Ben Whishaw gives his voice for the title character and after seeing the film I could not think of anyone better for it. And after portraying characters like Sebastian in Brideshead Revisited, John Keats in Bright Star, its not hard to wonder why.

Sorry Colin Firth.

The rest of the film was similarly well cast, Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins - as Mr and Mrs Brown (they have two children - Judy (Madeleine Harris) and Jonathan (Samuel Joslin), Julie Walters as Mrs Bird, Peter Capaldi as Mr Curry all bring something special to their characters, as does Nicole Kidman, as a sort of more active Cruella De Vil type, but she too makes Millicent her own.

Mark King (known to a lot as Super Hans in Peep Show) pops up, as does Geoffrey Palmer, Jim Broadbent and Matt Lucas and Michael Gambon and Imelda Staunton.

It is a family film first and foremost and that carries on into the main theme of the story. That gives the film its heartwarming quality, but secondly its a comedy, so get ready for the slapstick/visual and verbal humour, because it comes in by the bucketful.
So essentially the equivalent of getting a big hug and getting the giggles at the same time. And who doesn't like that?

For the kids and the big kids, clearly the Brits miss the almost yearly events of the Harry Potter films and this was a welcome replacement.


Comments

  1. Film & TV Commentator12 December 2014 at 03:16

    This quote comes from similarly themed film. And that also caters for little and big kids.

    Agnes: I know what makes you a boy.
    Gru: [turns to Agnes] Uh... You do?
    Agnes: The bald head.
    Gru: Oh, yes.
    Agnes: [creates an imaginary line around the head of a confused Gru] It's really smooth. Sometimes I stare at it, I imagine a little chick popping out. [imitates a chick hatchling) Peep-peep-peep-peep.
    Gru: Good night, Agnes. [gives Agnes a good night kiss] Never get older.”

    ReplyDelete

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