Movie Information
Release Date: January 12, 2018
Director: Paul King
Writer: Paul King, Simon Farnaby, Michael Bond
Cast: Michael Gambon, Imelda Staunton, Ben Whishaw, Madeleine Harris, Samuel Joslin, Sally Hawkins, Hugh Bonneville, Julie Walters, Marie-France Alvarez, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Ben Miller, Jessica Hynes, Robbie Gee, Nicholas Woodeson, Alex Jordan, Stewart Gilchrist, Jim Broadbent, Enzo Squillino Jr., Tom Conti, Sam Payne, Catherine Shepherd, Louis Partridge, Hugh Grant, Peter Capaldi, Claire Keelan, Shola Adewusi, Nadine Marshall
MPAA Rating: PG
Runtime: 104 minutes
Production Company: StudioCanal, Anton Capital Entertainment (ACE), Amazon Prime Instant Video, Canal+, Cine+, Heyday Films, Marmalade Films, Warner Bros.
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Language: English
Country: UK, France, USA
Budget: N/A
If you want a lovely feel-good movie, Paddington is everything you’re looking for. Directed by Paul King, Paddington is the bear that would be more than welcome in any family that he’d come across. There’s just no other way around it. He’s simply adorable in every way imaginable, and his portrayal on screen is perfect without a doubt.
Picking up where the last film left off, Paddington is enjoying the streets of London bringing joy and delight to everyone who crosses his path. He’s on a mission to find the perfect gift for his Aunt Lucy’s 100th birthday and gets tied up in a bit of a mess while doing so. What happened, you might ask. He’s wrongfully convicted of a crime that he didn’t commit and will stop at nothing to prove his innocence.
While that synopsis is quite simple, the relationship that Paddington has with the town’s people is what gives the film more light. The nature of Paddington’s presence alone is worth your time, and so much more. He influences the larger characters, and the small and is the type of bear that if you didn’t know him, you’d wish you had all along. Paddington childlike behavior will melt your heart. He’s funny, witty, and has a small sense of naivety that is a little over the top, but that’s another reason why you would love him so.
Every joke lands in the film, and there’s a small adventure to be had through riddles, puzzles, and a final chase scene on a train. I’ve never had marmalade before but am curious to see what all the fuss is all about, especially if it’s made by Paddington. While on the surface, this film may feel like it’s only for the youth. If you thought this, I must say you’re wrong, Paddington is for all ages, and is nearly impossible for you not to enjoy. If you want to walk away from a film looking at the glass half full, watching or reading any form of Paddington is the best option I could recommend.
