PADDINGTON | FAMILY MOVIE REVIEW INFORMATION FOR PARENTS AND KIDS

"PADDINGTON"
(2014) (voice of Ben Winshaw, Hugh Bonneville) (PG)

QUICK TAKE:: Family Dramedy: A British family takes in a young, talking bear and tries to help him find an explorer from long ago, all while a sadistic taxidermist wants to get her hands on him.

PLOT:

Long ago in deepest, darkest Peru, British explorer Montgomery Clyde (TIM DOWNIE) discovered a small number of intelligent bears, and named them Uncle Pastuzo (voice of MICHAEL GAMBON) and Aunt Lucy (IMELDA STAUNTON). Not only did he teach them how to speak English, but he also introduced them to marmalade and invited them to visit London where they'd certainly be welcomed by all.

Years later, the two bears are living happily with their young nephew (voice of BEN WHISHAW) when a terrible earthquake strikes. With Uncle Pastuzo gone and their home destroyed, Aunt Lucy puts her nephew on a boat headed for London, hoping he'll find the past explorer as well as a good home and future.

But the young bear doesn't know what to do upon his arrival. Thankfully, Mary Brown (SALLY HAWKINS) decides that she, her husband, Henry (HUGH BONNEVILLE), and their kids, Judy (MADELEINE HARRIS) and Jonathan (SAMUEL JOSLIN), should give the bear -- who she's named Paddington (voice of BEN WHISHAW), after a train station stop -- a place to stay for the night.

That doesn't sit well with their nosey neighbor, Mr. Curry (PETER CAPALDI), while Henry -- who's a risk analyst by trade -- thinks it's a bad idea, and Judy doesn't want to be bothered, what with being embarrassed by her family already. But Jonathan is happy to have Paddington there, as is their housekeeper, Mrs. Bird (JULIE WALTERS), while Mary makes it her mission to help the bear find the explorer. Someone interested in getting her hands on Paddington, however, is Millicent (NICOLE KIDMAN), a sadistic taxidermist who wants to stuff the bear and put him on display in the British Natural History Museum.

As she sets her sights on doing that, Mary and eventually the rest of the family not only chip in to help Paddington find Montgomery, but also start to feel like he's a member of their family.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: It's a good bet that many younger kids will want to see it.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG: For mild action and rude humor.

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