December is the month when critics make their lists of the year’s best films. “Spotlight” will be on most of them, as will “The Martian.” But I’d like to argue for a family film that I believe is one of the top-10 films of 2015: “Paddington.”
“Paddington” is an adaptation of the beloved series of books by Michael Bond about the titular talking bear from “Darkest Peru.” This film follows Paddington as he immigrates to London after a tragedy to find a new home. Aided by the eccentric Brown family, he tries to find the explorer who visited his aunt and uncle in Peru and taught them English.
One of the things I like about “Paddington” is the title character. He’s a polite bear who is kind to everyone he meets. Ben Whishaw, who voices him, has a voice that distills youth and warmth into a character that you love and want to take care of in equal measure.
Some of the slapstick humor that Paddington is involved in can be a tad crude. A sequence set in an overflowing bathroom comes to mind. But at its best the slapstick has a pacing and a Rube Goldberg-esque sense of the inventive that makes it fun to watch.
Even the smallest supporting performances are excellent. Imelda Staunton and Michael Gambon voice Paddington’s Aunt Lucy and Uncle Pastuzo. They are only in the beginning of the film for a few minutes, but they make these animated bears feel like three-dimensional characters and show how they have shaped Paddington.
The visual aesthetic of “Paddington” is another reason why I love it so much. The colors in the Brown household are bright and vivid. One shot of a dollhouse that opens up to reveal the Brown family was as audacious and beautiful as anything I’ve seen this year.
Many critics have written about how “Paddington” bears the influence of Wes Anderson. There are certain horizontal tracking shots that glide like the ones in “Moonrise Kingdom.” At times “Paddington” even feels like a cuddly version of “The Royal Tenenbaums” for children, given the various talents of the Browns and the near fantastical nature of their house.
I’ve seen “Paddington” four times. I have found new things in it every time I watch it. On my fourth viewing I realized Mr. Curry — a grumpy neighbor — was a reflection of Paddington. Mr. Curry had a cold mother figure whose last gift to him was the house where he’d spent his entire life. Paddington had a warm mother figure whose last gift to him was helping him find a new home.
I know “Paddington” won’t go down in history as the best film of 2015. But I do believe it is one of the warmest films to be released in the United States in a long time. Everyone should see it.
