Children’s films have the unenviable task of keeping the little ones entertained while not boring their parents to tears. Some rely heavily on pop culture referentiality for the adults, and bright flashing lights for the children. Others rely on multilayered storytelling that appeals to all ages, or try their best to stand on nostalgia, instilling us with the warm memory of what it was like to be a child.
While we’ve seen all different kinds in recent years, I confess that the latter seems to be few and far between. That all may change very shortly, however, if the newly released teaser trailer for Paddington is anything to go by, as it appears to take aim at the gentle nostalgia that has been rather sparse of late.
The Paddington trailer is suffused with a warm golden palette that recalls a bygone age when things were simpler, and a little brown bear in a raincoat was all we really needed to feel safe. While this teaser gives us nothing in the way of plot and showcases none of the formidable talent behind the film – including Colin Firth as the voice of the titular bear himself – it does establish a nostalgic tone that the rest of the movie will hopefully carry through.
While Paddington might have the most immediate recognition across the pond, even I can recall some of the stories of the traveling bear from “deepest, darkest Peru.” Given that it will not hit American cinemas until December, it seems that the the team behind the film are trying to drum up some early overseas interest.
In addition to Firth, Paddington stars Peter Capaldi, Sally Hawkins, Hugh Bonneville and Nicole Kidman. Check out the trailer below and then let us know what you think of it in the comments. Will the little brown bear play well in American cinemas?
Paddington comes to US theatres on December 12th, 2014.
