Paddington (2014)

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Some time ago, I decided to look at what I first assumed to be just another attempt at making a children's property "cool," like 'Alvin & the Chipmunks' or 'Smurfs.' My curiosity eventually got the better of me between being told by some that it was "quite good" and looking at ratings throughout the internet. Surprisingly, the ratings for this were high, so I figured I'd give it a shot. This viewing would eventually result in both 'Paddington' and 'Paddington 2' becoming two of my biggest "comfort food" movies.

I would define a "comfort food" movie as something one can put on and enjoy for any bad day, whether at home, under the blankets with a cold, or just a frustrating time at school or work. A "comfort food" movie will lighten the mood and, at least for me, give way to pure relaxation that's hard to describe. Remember that feeling you got staying home from school on a weekday afternoon, tuning into 'The Price is Right'? It's whatever one might call that particular feeling. It's a sort of "Sunday afternoon" feeling.

We open things up with the backstory of how an English explorer named Montgomery Clyde (Tim Downie) travelled to the darkest areas of Peru and came across a breed of hyper-intelligent bear. He names them Lucy (Imelda Staunton), after his Mother, and Pastuzo (Michael Gambon), after a boxer he once met in a bar. He teaches them a lot about human life, and they seem to adapt quite well, right down to learning how to speak English. But the bears' most significant takeaway is delicious marmalade, which is almost a character on its own.

Several years later, Lucy and Pastuzo bring a cub under their care, who is eventually sent to London, England, to try to find a new home for them after a natural disaster strikes and takes their original one. Upon arrival in London, the cub meets the Brown family: Henry (Hugh Bonneville), his wife, Mary (Sally Hawkins), their kids, Judy (Madeleine Harris) and Jonathan (Samuel Joslin), and their housekeeper, Mrs. Bird (Julie Walters), who take him in and care for him until he can find a place to stay.

The Browns name him Paddington (Ben Whishaw), and during his stay, he bonds with the family despite getting into some shenanigans here and there. In the meantime, a woman named Millicent (Nicole Kidman) receives word that this rare bear is roaming around London. She becomes Paddington's biggest threat, as she desires to capture, kill, stuff and mount the poor bear for her collection of rare animals. But for as harsh as that sounds, bear in mind that this is aimed at kids, so things get a bit cartoonish, and it never goes over the line.

What really makes this movie stand out for me, however, is how it doesn't take itself seriously except for the messages and lessons that come through. It carries that amazing British wit with it, too, resulting in some very funny dialogue and moments. For example, before meeting Paddington, Henry tells his family to keep their eyes away from the random bear because he's just going to tell a sob story of some sort. It's not "Oh my, a talking bear!" There's a tiny bit of gross-out humour, but for the most part, it's light-hearted fun.

Even though this is a film directed at kids, I stick to the idea that it's a good movie that people of all ages can enjoy. I genuinely appreciate the all-around silly tone of the film, along with the all-around look of things. The set design and lighting make everything in the Brown's home look incredibly cozy and inviting, and as a package, this film delivers all the warmth and sweetness that some of us need on those days. The' Paddington' movies are the movie equivalent of a good hug.

4/5

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