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Paddington (PG)

Comedy, Family

A young English boy befriends a talking bear he finds at a London train station. A live-action feature based on the series of popular children's books by Michael Bond.


The critical consensus

It will be intriguing too to see what international audiences make of such eccentric and quintessentially British fare.

**(*)(*)(*)Geoffrey MacNab, The Independent, 19/11/2014

Antique conceit meets high-concept story in Paul King’s big-screen adaptation of the Michael Bond classic.

***(*)(*)Xan Brooks, The Guardian, 19/11/2014

It's a genuine delight.

****(*)Nikki Baughan, The List, 24/11/2014

Marmaladen 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.

*****Chris Hewitt, Empire Online, 24/11/2014

Colin Firth may come to rue his departure from what’s surely to become a franchise. This caper is kid-captivating and perfectly parent-friendly too.

****(*)Emma Morgan, Total Film, 26/11/2014

All in all, it’s a nice reintroduction for the character and a worthier seasonal cinematic treat for the younger end of the family market than those horrendous Nativity films.

***(*)(*)Alistair Harkness, The Scotsman, 29/11/2014

Portobello Road and west London do look a bit monocultural and Mary Poppinseque at times, but the movie has a nice anti-Ukipper line in attacking Mr Curry’s xenophobic grumpiness and resentment of outsiders. It is a Christmas treat.

****(*)Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian, 27/11/2014

Through it all runs the touching story of an outsider making a new home for himself, and discovering that in the end, whatever our differences, "anyone in London can fit in".

****(*)Laurence Phelan, The Independent, 28/11/2014

Paddington has a very brisk running time and a slightly choppy story but the slapstick comedy, races and chases will please the kids and adults will enjoy a sigh of nostalgia for Disney fare such as Bedknobs And Broomsticks or One Of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing.

****(*)Allan Hunter, Daily Express, 28/11/2014

An unadulterated delight from start to finish.

Adam Woodward, Little White Lies, 27/11/2014

It may have taken years for Paddington to hit the big screen but he’ll be here to stay. I’m looking forward to the sequel.

*****Henry Fitzherbert, Daily Express, 30/11/2014

“Please look after this bear”, says the tag around Paddington’s neck. Rest assured, they have.

****(*)Mark Kermode, The Observer, 30/11/2014

Where and when?

General release. Check local listings for show times.

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