Paddington

Too cute to bear.

Too cute to bear.

Rated 5.0

A rare specimen of intelligent bear from “darkest Peru” (voice by Ben Whishaw) emigrates to London, where he is taken in by an English family—to the delight of the mother (Sally Hawkins) and son (Samuel Joslin), and the exasperation of the father (Hugh Bonneville) and daughter (Madeleine Harris). Soon, our furry hero attracts the attention of a cold-hearted scientist with a penchant for taxidermy (Nicole Kidman). Writer-director Paul King preserves the charm and sweetness of Michael Bond's children's books, while adding a feature-length plot and an opportunity for Kidman to trot out a serving of delicious, lip-smacking villainy. The movie is an irresistible charmer, endearing, family-friendly and hilariously funny. No matter what happens at the box office, the DVD is sure to sell millions of copies.