News location:

Canberra Today 22°/26° | Friday, March 29, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Review / ‘Paddington’ (G) *** and a half

Paddington BearIN a Peruvian jungle, explorer Montgomery Clyde befriends an extraordinary bear species hitherto unknown to science. It can speak human-speak. Its preferred diet is marmalade sandwiches.

Clyde assures Mr and Mrs Bear that their family will always find a welcome in London.

The first live-action feature starring Michael Bond’s literary creation that has delighted children since 1958 on page and TV screen, is a warmly affectionate rendition of how a little orphan bear was finding London rather less welcoming than Clyde had promised.

Then, as he sat alone and feeling low at Paddington Station late one night, an arriving train disgorged the Brown family.

Mr and Mrs Brown (Hugh Bonneville and Sally Hawkins), their children Judy and Jonathan and housekeeper Mrs Bird (Julie Walters) live in a pleasant London suburb. Opposite lives nosey-parker Curry (Peter Capaldi) whom the mysterious Millicent (ash-blonde-wigged Nicole Kidman) enlists to report on comings and goings at the Brown residence, particularly the bear.

The family has taken Paddington to its heart although Father’s doubts rack up the tension for a while. When Millicent reveals her nefarious intentions, the tensions increase. Will Paddington meet a terrible end?

I smiled constantly and laughed often at the antics that writer/director Paul King devised for the film. Only the rankest curmudgeon could fail to take pleasure from it. The coming holiday season offers several films ostensibly for children. “Paddington” merits top position on every family’s list.

At all cinemas

Who can be trusted?

In a world of spin and confusion, there’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in Canberra.

If you trust our work online and want to enforce the power of independent voices, I invite you to make a small contribution.

Every dollar of support is invested back into our journalism to help keep citynews.com.au strong and free.

Become a supporter

Thank you,

Ian Meikle, editor

Dougal Macdonald

Dougal Macdonald

Share this

Leave a Reply

Related Posts

Music

Cunio takes top job at NZ School of Music

Immediate past head of the ANU School of Music, Kim Cunio, is to become head of school at Te Kōki, the NZ School of Music, part of the Victoria University of Wellington, reports HELEN MUSA.

Follow us on Instagram @canberracitynews