PADDINGTON (2014)

A young bear from the jungles of Peru, when his home becomes uninhabitable, is helped by his aunt onto a ship bound for London.  His aunt and uncle, visited long ago by a British explorer who became their friend and taught them English, told their nephew he'd always be welcomed there (as the explorer once promised), but he winds up instead all alone in the busy Paddington station.  That is, until found by the Brown family, in particular Mrs. Brown (Sally Hawkins), whose big heart reaches out to the young bear even as her uptight husband (Hugh Bonneville) wants none of it.  Along with their two kids, the Browns take Paddingtion - so named by Mrs. Brown - home for the night, beginning an adventure that finds Paddington (perfectly voiced by Ben Whishaw) learning that big city life is far different than he'd imagined ... and even dangerous, once he gets the attention of a wicked lady taxidermist (Nicole Kidman).  A wonderful, upbeat, chicken-soup-for-the-soul kind of film - and, as directed by Paul King as if via the eyes of an imaginative child, one of the year's best. (rated PG)  A

PADDINGTON trailer