Whoa, a talking bear! That is the impressive power of CGI. I found myself wondering how the actors managed to perform opposite a character who was not really there. The production used eyeline markers and, for more complex scenes, a stand-in of roughly Paddington’s height. Even so, the cast deserves plenty of credit for making those interactions feel convincing.
The story begins with a British explorer discovering two remarkable bears in Peru—Paddington’s Aunt Lucy and Uncle Pastuzo. The Geographers’ Guild expects him to bring back a specimen, but he refuses to harm the bears or reveal where they live. And of course he should refuse. As a result, he is expelled from the Guild. His daughter, however, later comes to resent his decision.
The film is also filled with distinctive British accents. Hearing them made me think about the historical relationship between British and American English. Both developed from earlier forms of English spoken in the British Isles, although they later evolved in different ways.
Another thing that caught my attention was Nicole Kidman playing the villain. This may not have been her only villainous role, but seeing her as the antagonist still felt fresh to me. She performs the role well, too.
After the Brown family welcomes Paddington into their home, the young bear gradually learns what it feels like to belong to a new family. And really, what does it take to make a family? When people care for one another and treat each other well, they can become a family.
Paddington is also a very polite and kind bear. His British accent makes him seem even more courteous, bringing to mind the familiar image of Britain as a country of gentlemen. That also reminded me of Korea’s traditional description as the “Land of Courtesy in the East.”
Overall, Paddington struck me as a pleasant, easygoing comedy.