Paddington Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		1.5
Overall		3.5

Paddington Blu-ray Movie Review

No need to grin and bear it with this charmer.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman April 17, 2015

From the pages of the beloved children's literature books comes Paddington, the story of a walking, talking little bear who, after tragedy strikes in his native land of Peru, seeks new beginnings in London. The character, created in 1958 by the talents of Writer Michael Bond and Illustrator Peggy Fortnum, has become a childhood favorite, a well-journeyed figure whose books dot library and bedroom shelves the world over, entertaining children while also teaching the basics of politeness through mild misadventure and even instilling an eagerness to sample Marmalade. Now, the character comes to full life in a combination live action/digital film that sees the lovable bear seamlessly integrated into the real world where, like in the books, he finds himself caught up in a series of misadventures while in search of a proper home. Director Paul King has crafted a simple and linear, albeit joyous and comfortable, little film that brings the beloved character to life with a sense of realism and charm that's not only a tremendous feat of digital magic but also a testament to the power of basic, heartfelt, and family oriented storytelling.

A new home.

An English explorer named Montgomery Clyde (Tim Downie) journeys through Peru and comes across a new species of bear that, despite outward appearances, seems more human than Ursidae. They are capable of speech, basic interaction, and develop a taste for Marmalade. Clyde leaves them be but assures them that they'll always find a warm welcome in rainy London. Some time later, a young bear cub (voiced by Ben Whishaw) lives with his aunt and uncle. An earthquake destroys their home; cub and aunt are safe but the uncle is lost in the chaos. The cub sets out for London in search of a new life. After some time waiting in the train station, with only his uncle's red hat, an emergency Marmalade sandwich, and a tag asking for a home, he's taken in by the kindly Brown family. Mother Mary (Sally Hawkins) insists, the kids (Madeleine Harris and Samuel Joslin) seem on the fence, and overprotective father Henry (Hugh Bonneville) wants nothing to do with bear that Mary names "Paddington." The family takes him in on a temporary basis until he can track down the kindly Mr. Clyde, but he grows fond of the Browns and they him. Meanwhile, an evil taxidermist named Millicent (Nicole Kidman) learns of Paddington's existence and becomes determined to do whatever she must to have him as her own.

Structurally, Paddington isn't particularly original. It follows a simple, approachable formula of good intentions gone awry, questions and doubts turned into support and friendship, and a weaselly, comically unscrupulous, but not-particularly-scary villain to introduce a little danger and serve as a facilitator for the good feelings that grow out of the Paddington-Brown family relationship. The picture opens with a bit of legitimate emotional upheaval as Paddington finds his world literally torn apart and leaves home for London (one might question his decision to ditch a grieving aunt when she needs his love and companionship the most, something that might mildly bother some audiences) and plays through a series of predictably occurring but unpredictable specific bits of mischief that see Paddington struggle to adapt to his new environment, though lucky him, several of his misadventures will prove beneficial through the course of the film and in his battle with Millicent. At its center, however, is a hugely charming, easily embraceable, effortlessly paced, and family appropriate film that viewers of all ages should find a pleasant experience.

From a technical perspective, the movie is also a success. Paddington looks marvelous, staggeringly so, even. Every bit of fur moves organically, the facial expressions are precise, the eyes are deep and honest, the movement and body language are effortless and descriptive, and his trademark attire -- the blue jacket and red hat -- sit on him with a natural sense of volume and realistic flow. The immersion into the human world is seamless; character interaction is perfect, be it human reacting to him or Paddington reacting to humans. Not all of the effects are top-notch, however; dripping, runny Marmalade, for example, looks shiny and flows inorganically, but it's a small complaint in an otherwise precise, much more beautiful bigger picture. The cast is unsurprisingly strong. Ben Whishaw's Paddington voice is a perfect match both in terms of delivery and matching up with the looks and emotions the digital bear expresses throughout. Hugh Bonneville is marvelous as the film's burgeoning hero, and Sally Hawkins turns in a sweet, welcoming performance. Nicole Kidman turns heel very well, finding just the right balance between villainous and approachable, a perfect character realization for a movie aimed at the younger demographic.

Paddington Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Paddington features a top-notch 1080p transfer. It's rich and alive with bold, striking colors and pinpoint real world and digital details alike. The palette is healthy and robust, producing natural Peruvian greens and bright oranges with amazing realism. Paddington's red hat and blue coat and other assorted hues around London are likewise impressively reproduced. Details are exacting, with individual digital fur looking particularly strong. The transfer also excels in recreating London, whether train station details, in-home accents, or street level textures. Clarity is precise, sharpness comes naturally and only infrequently gives way to smudgy edges, and there's an overall healthy, robust sense of vitality and textural nuance to practically every bit of visual information. Black levels are not problematic and flesh tones appear even. There's no banding, noise, aliasing, or other eyesores getting in the way of a splendid Blu-ray picture.

Paddington Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Paddington's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack creates a rich, lifelike experience. Music is smoothly delivered and features precise instrumental detail, effortless front speaker spacing, light surround support, and a natural bottom end heft. The subwoofer cranks out some excellent scene- and event-specific bass, notably the rattly earthquake that ultimately sends Paddington to London; there's a real sense of sonic chaos, volume, and depth to the event. Add in rattling details in their home when the tremor first starts, rustling leaves as they run for shelter, and other support effects and the moment is one of the best crafted in the film from a sonic perspective. The track finds a healthy bit of ambient support in London. Train station PA announcements reverberate naturally through the stage and light environmental din brings several locations to life, including a beautifully detailed sound of wind blowing through a drafty, creaky attic. Dialogue is delivered clearly and naturally from the center.

Paddington Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Paddington contains several brief featurettes and the obligatory music video. Inside the Blu-ray case, buyers will find a DVD copy of the film and a voucher for a UV digital copy.

• Meet the Characters (1080p, 2:18): A quick introduction to the primary cast and characters, cast chemistry and energy, and performances.
• When a Bear Comes to Stay (1080p, 1:49): A brief look at Paddington's innocent, mischievous high jinks.
• From Page to Screen (1080p, 3:02): As the title suggests, this supplement examines story origins, character details, creating the digital Paddington, and voice work.
• Lyric Music Video (1080p, 1:34): "Shine" featuring lyrics appearing on the screen.
• The Making of "Shine" with Gwen Stefani & Pharrell Williams (1080p, 4:22): A look at the process of crafting the music video which, sadly, is the longest and most substantive supplement of the bunch.

Paddington Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Paddington is a bear hug-able movie that isn't particularly original -- it's based on an old favorite book franchise and moves through a series of predictable ups, downs, adventures, conflicts, and burgeoning family ties -- but it's honest, heartfelt, and safe for the entire family. The cast is good and the digital effects are generally top-notch. Altogether, this is one of the finest live action-meets-digital character Family films in recent years and one that families will want on their home video shelves. Anchor Bay's Blu-ray release of Paddington features excellent video and audio. Supplements are unfortunately limited to a few brief featurettes and a music video. Highly recommended.