Peter CostelloPaddington Bear
The family film of the season is undoubtedly Paddington Bear, “from the producers of Harry Potter”. Though classified in Ireland for general release, there was some dismay when the film was given a PG (Parental Guidance) certificate in Britain. The censor was bothered about some of the language and the innuendo – implied, of course, to keep the adults in charge of the children amused.
However, for me, this whole thing is quite an overblown, aerated film out of all proportion to the stories to which it owes its origins.
Michael Bond’s Paddington Bear tales, originally illustrated by Peggy Fortum in amusing little drawings, were very much low key and family oriented. Paddington, the bear from Peru, where he still had relatives, was all too often the well intentioned cause of havoc, but it was uncomplicated havoc, without special effects.
Take the children to the film by all means, but also introduce them to the stories, all of which are available in a variety of editions. Michael Bond does family life in a very gentle, charming way, something it seems “the producers of Harry Potter” in Hollywood are not capable of.