Paddington, as a film series, is well-known in cinephile circles at this point. Now, there is a sentence that would have been surprising a decade ago. Paddington has always been a mainstay in children’s entertainment, especially in the United Kingdom, but now he has crossed the pond into American (and others) hearts. For those somehow unaware, Paddington (voiced by Ben Whishaw) is a small bear that gets adopted by a British family after he is found in a train station. The film adds an origin story never included in the books that does a wonderful job of explaining away what would be a plot hole. The Brown family adopts him, names him (after the train station), and all the while, he must dodge on evil taxidermist, Millicent Clyde (Nicole Kidman). In a family-friendly way, everyone learns a lesson, gets closer as a family, and understands the value of kindness and having a good heart.
Packaging
Lionsgate really shows that they understand the fun the Paddington represents with this design. The suitcase, the orange marmalade, the suitcase; it all screams Paddington. Also, they capture some of that whimsy with the slipcover. The only thing on that cover is the hat, so when you lift it, the ears are suddenly seen. When the slipcover goes back on, so does the hat. A small, but ingenious detail that really suits this release.
Video
The 4K remaster, Widescreen (2.39:1) in Dolby Vision®, looks sharp and without error. This is always important, but given the computer-generated nature of its main character, this is a necessity. This marks the first time that Paddington has been in 4K, and Lionsgate definitely put in an intense amount of work. Besides the titular character, the sweeping cityscapes of London remain eye catching, as do the camera movements as Paddington floats on an umbrella or blasts out of the house after a bathtub incident. Really excellent work, all around.
Audio
Paddington also sounds fantastic, thanks to the sound being rendered via Dolby Atmos. It contains an English and a Spanish track, but sadly no closed captioning. However, the vocal work (especially from Whishaw), combined with sound effects from the city, animal roars, and Nicole Kidman’s heels clacking in frame, is impressive. There are no noticeable pops or issues with sound to report. Overall, although this is not a title that is booming in any way, there is a clarity of sound that makes it memorable.
Special Features
Lionsgate has included all previous special features, along with one extra featurette, which is excellent.
Legacy Special Features
Meet the Characters – This small featurette quickly introduces us to the main characters, including Paddington, The Brown Family, and Millicent
When a Bear Comes to Stay
From Page to Screen – This lovely featurette focuses on the background of Paddington as a children’s book and quickly tracks the history up until this version.
“Shine” Lyric Music Video – Although this feels a bit like searching on youtube, the video is cute enough certainly captures the feels of the film in song form.
The Making of “Shine” with Gwen Stefani and Pharrell Williams – The highlight of this featurette is a brief interview with the musical artists talking about making music and art for young people, and how that can be satisfying.
Theatrical Trailer – Standard, but looks quite nice on the 4K disc
Lionsgate Limited Extra
Please Look After This Bear – This is the crown jewel of the special features. It contains interviews with director Paul King that shed light, not only on the difficult process of making this film, but its place in the canon, especially of children’s movies.
General Thoughts
Paddington is a solid purchase for lovers of the film (and its sequel). It is presented in the best possible picture and sound, and the disc itself is handsomely designed. There are some weaknesses, specifically in the special features. At least one commentary, perhaps from the director would help round out this disc into something that just had a bit more heft. That, along with closed captioning, would have pushed this into a higher echelon of disc. Despite that, this is well worth the price of admission, especially if you have a young viewer in your house. They deserve high quality too!
Collection Fit
We all love a family classic, from time to time. It can be easy to look down on movies specifically made for children, but how else does one introduce the form to the kids? This will fit on any family’s shelf with ease, looks great, and the film itself is easily approachable for every age of viewer.
Grade – B+
Note: Images presented in this review are not necessarily reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray. Grades are indicative of the physical media release and not the film itself.
Disclaimer: Lionsgate Films have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
