Film: Post Feature: Paddington

I have written before about the troubles concerned with turning a beloved childhood book, comic or TV show into a blockbuster film (Michael Bay’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, how I wish I could wipe you from my brain). My fears for the new Paddington Bear film were only exacerbated by the threat of some potentially terribly CGI…

Enjoying as I did the 1997 cartoon series, and adoring the stop-motion series from the 1970s, I was doubtful about this first foray onto the big screen for the bear from Peru.

I needn’t have worried.

2014’s Paddington is not a cheap, garish clash of CGI and live action, it is not mawkish or annoyingly self-referential. This 21st century Paddington is every bit as charming and entertaining as his television counterpart. Writer-director Paul King has also worked on The Mighty Boosh and that zany-but-endearing comedic background shines through. His co-writer Hamish McColl has also worked on such prototypically English comedies as Mr Bean’s Holiday, Johnny English Reborn and the new Dad’s Army, coming out next year.

This background shines through; Paddington is full of the sweet-natured comedy we have come to expect from British family films – aimed towards young children but marked by being appealingly dotted with jokes that go over their heads, in the most sweet-natured of ways. It also stars some of our best actors: from Downton’s Hugh Bonneville to the wonderful Sally Hawkins and the superb Peter Capaldi. The film paints the picture of a colourful and multicultural London.

Paddington’s original creator, Michael Bond is reported as having said he “slept soundly” after seeing the new film, and he has every reason to have done. For those looking for a family-friendly, slightly festive film, Paddington is clearly the way to go. It is an island of hope in a sea of Nativity 3 and Get Santa!

Well, that is my opinion, at least. You will have to watch PostFeature on Wednesday at 6.30pm (or catch a repeat throughout the week) to see what my dear, Grinch-like co-presenter, Joseph Gunn, thinks of this re-mastering. I warn you now, he hates just about anything with even the hint of a Christmas tree!

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