Mini Review #83: Paddington (2014) (Patreon)

Wanted to start the New Year off on a joyful footing as well as watch a movie that would help me ease my way back to reacting after taking about a week and a half off for the holidays. I couldn't have picked a better movie for that! Paddington was everything I wanted it to be and more. It was so full of heart and magic that I could feel myself bursting at the seems with love for this little CGI bear. Watching Paddington attempt to navigate London was one of the best examples of the classic 'fish out of water' scenario I have seen. It was done with so much class and humor while never actually making fun of Paddington for not knowing how things work. Speaking of humor, there are so many moments in the movie that made me hearty laugh. Not sniffle laugh where you just exhale a bit from your nose, but genuinely a big hearty laugh. There were some great physical comedy buts but even more moments of dialogue where the timing of them mixed with the scenario just had me tearing up with laughter. The camera work and lighting also worked together really well to make a dynamic film where the lighting sometimes reflected characters moods and the camera work constantly stayed moving. Not only that, but the camera work was consistently in line with Paddington's eye level meaning that we were always seeing the world from his point of view. Such an amazing movie that just brought a lot of warmth and joy to me!