In a strange way, the change of Paddington’s voice is perfect. It’s more “down to earth” than the dulcet tones of Colin Firth could have brought to the role. It would be nice to hear what Colin did to the character but it does seem when they chose Ben Whishaw they made the perfect choice.
Nicole Kidman is also wonderfully cast as the baddie, the seductive taxidermist who is after Paddington for totally different reasons. Not only that, it has a wonderful British cast that fit the, much loved, characters so well.
From someone who grew up in the 1970s, this chaotic bear does hold very fond memories of the cartoon series. The chaos he caused to the exasperation of Mr Brown. It does seem that they have kept the fun of that loved series and just made everyone 3D!
Paddington has grown up deep in the Peruvian jungle with his Aunt Lucy who, inspired by a chance encounter with an English explorer, has raised her nephew to dream of an exciting life in London. When an earthquake destroys their home, Aunt Lucy decides to smuggle her young nephew on board a boat bound for England, in search of a better life. Arriving alone at Paddington Station, Paddington soon finds that city life is not all he had imagined – until he meets the kindly Brown family, who find him with a label tied around his neck which reads ‘Please look after this bear. Thank you.’ They offer him a temporary home whilst he searches for the explorer who impressed Aunt Lucy all those years before.
But when Paddington catches the eye of a sinister, seductive taxidermist, it isn’t long before his home – and very existence – is under threat …
Causing chaos in UK cinemas from November 28, 2014
