Paddington (2014)

It could have gone terribly wrong for Paddington, Paul King's live-action and CGI interpretation of the much-loved Michael Bond books, and the departure of Colin Firth with the subsequent casting of Ben Whishaw as the marmalade loving bear only added to the concern.

However, though, in the early scenes, I could easily imagine Colin Firth's voice, Ben Whishaw is perfectly cast and Paddington is so enthralling as to quickly banish any thoughts beyond the adventure and mayhem that unfolds upon the screen.

When an earthquake ends the idyllic life of Paddington and his aunt and uncle in darkest Peru, he stows away on a ship in search of the English explorer who introduced the bears to marmalade and departed assuring them of a warm welcome should they ever visit London. Finding the bear stranded at Paddington railway station, alone and ignored, Mrs. Brown (Sally Hawkins) takes pity on him and offers Paddington a bed for the night and help in finding him a 'proper' home in the morning. Appalled by his wife's softness, Mr. Brown (Hugh Bonneville) reluctantly accepts the bear for one night only but doesn't consider the effect of Paddington's charm, the impact of his presence nor the existence of Millicent (Nicole Kidman), a taxidermist at the Natural History Museum who needs a certain bear for her collection.

At the heart of Paddington is a vocal performance from Whishaw that, whilst it doesn't banish the fond memory of Michael Horden's TV series narration, certainly adds a wonderful, modern and energetic slant to perhaps the most loved bear of literature after Winnie the Pooh. Paddington's 95 minutes rattle along with a gentle energy that shuns the frenetic style so common in modern children's television and instead enhances the casual calamity that Paddington leaves in his wake.

Principally, King has written and directed a thoroughly entertaining caper that serves up a delicious villainess whose costumes will have some of the older audience members stirring and whose antics and snarls will have the youngsters hissing joyfully. Like the adult-pleasing cameos from Peter Capaldi, Alice Lowe, Julie Walters, Matt Lucas and Jim Broadbent, Kidman delivers a performance the children will relish in a straightforward, obvious manner while the adults will laugh at the humour of the dialogue and visual gags that fly by just over their heads.

Paddington is packed with plenty of subtle humour for those who pay attention: the frequent signs and posters on the periphery of the screen, the film references and genuinely funny nods to Indiana Jones and Mission Impossible etc. But though these touches keep the adult audiences involved in the film, they are never dwelt upon, forced or allowed to detract from the simple humour and adventure that Paddington is crafted around.

To be truly successful, children's stories and films have to entertain children and adults equally. It was an achievement Michael Bond delivered beautifully with his original stories and Paul King matches him admirably. In a Christmas battle that will include Minions and Madagascan penguins, a bear from darkest Peru is leading the pack triumphantly and, having taken one niece to see Paddington, I suspect I shall be cajoled into taking her three siblings. Rare as it is with 'family' films, on this occasion it will be an absolute pleasure.

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