Paddington - reviews of 'warm, witty' film adaptation
Big-hearted film of childhood classic is 'a total delight' that will charm children and adults
What you need to know
The film adaptation of Michael Bond's children's classic, Paddington, has opened in UK cinemas. The comedy, co-written and directed by Paul King (The Mighty Boosh), stars Ben Whishaw as the voice of Paddington bear, with Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Peter Capaldi and Nicole Kidman.
The story follows a young bear who heads to London in search of a new life after an earthquake destroys his home in "Darkest Peru". Lost and alone, he is befriended by an English family at Paddington train station, but his happy prospects are threatened by a sinister taxidermist.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
What the critics like
The film is "a total delight, as warm and welcome as a hot pair of socks on a winter morning" and also enormously funny in an unmistakably British way, says Robbie Collin in the Daily Telegraph. The instruction "please look after this bear" has been heeded.
This live-action revamp of Paddington's exploits has been jazzed up with action set-pieces, a generous helping of peril and "the kind of irreverent comedy that charms children and adults", says Wende Ide in The Times. The heart of this sweet-natured ursine klutz beats strong and true in a film, which is also sticky, furry love letter to London.
"Marma-laden with gloriously silly jokes, pitch-perfect performances and incidental detail, this is a warm, witty and wondrously inventive great big bear-hug of a movie," says Chris Hewitt Empire. Consistently funny, surprising and with a heart as big as its hero's appetite, it deserves to be the start of a new franchise
What they don't like
It's a film of considerable charm but "undermined by a very bitty and flimsy screenplay", says Geoffrey MacNab in The Independent. Writer-director Paul King has more flair for comic set-pieces than he does for sustained narrative, and if Paddington is to turn into a movie franchise, far more attention will need to be paid to the storytelling.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - March 17, 2024
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - history repeating, the Pope's white flag, and more
By The Week US Published
-
The Week Unwrapped: Derelict homes, Welsh mines, and vinyl
Podcast What can we do about abandoned property? Are old mines still doing us harm? And what do LP sales tell us about the economy?
By The Week Staff Published
-
Dresden: on the trail of a Romantic icon in Germany
the week recommends The Saxon city celebrates the 250th birthday of Caspar David Friedrich this year
By The Week UK Published
-
Entangled Pasts: Art, Colonialism and Change review – an 'ambitious' and 'well meaning' exhibition
The Week Recommends The exhibition examines works of the African diaspora and historic links to colonialism
By The Week UK Published
-
The Hills of California review: 'ambitious, substantial and intriguing' play
The Week Recommends Jez Butterworth's 'ambitions are as large as ever', but does the play compare to his previous works?
By The Week Staff Published
-
Cute review: an 'unsettling' yet 'highly seductive' exhibition
The Week Recommends The concept of cuteness is explored in full force at this Somerset House show
By The Week UK Published
-
Plaza Suite: Sarah Jessica Parker is 'terrific entertainment'
The Week Recommends Sex and the City star plays against type in London's hottest ticket at the Savoy Theatre
By The Week Staff Published
-
Restaurant 1890 by Gordon Ramsay review: luxury service with a welcoming mood
The Week Recommends Beautiful wine and food only enhanced by impeccable service
By Neil Davey Published
-
Pauline Boty: A Portrait exhibition review
The Week Recommends The exhibition offers a rare opportunity to see the work of a "largely forgotten" British artist up close.
By The Week UK Published
-
Manon review: Royal Ballet raises the bar with superb cast
The Week Recommends 'Thrilling, grown-up entertainment' for ballet lovers
By The Week Staff Published
-
'Chaucer Here and Now' at the Bodleian Libraries
The Week Recommends The influence of the so-called 'father of English literature' is tracked throughout the centuries in this 'small but special' exhibition
By The Week UK Published