A LITTLE BEAR WILL MAKE A BIG SPLASH. 

After an earthquake makes him homeless, a young marmalade-loving bear makes his way from Peru to London where he’s temporarily cared for by the Brown family.

The perennial childhood favorite Paddington makes his way to the big screen in a jolly, enthusiastic and very British adventure likely to satisfy both kids and adults. It does rely on a formula, and Nicole Kidman offers no surprises as the villain, but the blend of live-action and CGI is excellent.

The filmmakers go all in on London charm, creating an irresistibly colorful and visually appealing fantasy. Paddington fits right in with the lovable Sally Hawkins and Hugh Bonneville as mom and dad Brown.

2014-U.K.-France. 95 min. Color. Widescreen. Written and directed by Paul King. Books: Michael Bond. Cast: Hugh Bonneville (Henry Brown), Sally Hawkins (Mary Brown), Nicole Kidman (Millicent Clyde), Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Peter Capaldi. Voices of Ben Whishaw, Imelda Staunton, Michael Gambon. 

Trivia: Colin Firth was originally hired to do Paddington’s voice. Bond has a cameo. Followed by two sequels, starting with Paddington 2 (2017).

Last word: “One was Charlie Chaplin’s The Kid. What attracted me to Paddington, comedically, is the clown side of him, the silent comedian side, and what I really love about Chaplin is how those films – especially The Kid but also City Lights and Gold Rush – have enormous heart as well as great laughs. Paddington is such a lovable figure and there’s something so profound in that image of him alone at the railway station, sitting on a suitcase with ‘Please look after this bear. Thank you’ on a luggage label.” (King on his inspirations, Indiewire)