Dr. Mac Christian Movie Reviews: Paddington (2014)

Bear in a blue coat sitting on top of the Paddington street sign.

“A polite little bear in a blue coat… and a few surprises Christian parents need to know.”

🐻 Quick Snapshot (Spoiler-Free)

This heartwarming adventure introduces Paddington, a marmalade-loving bear from Peru, who travels to London in search of a home. The Brown family takes him in, chaos follows, and so does a scheming taxidermist (Nicole Kidman) with designs on poor Paddington. It’s charming, funny, and deeply sweet — but let’s open the suitcase and check what’s hiding inside.

🗣️ Language & Profanity — What Parents Will Actually Hear

For a “kids’ movie,” Paddington is mostly clean, but not spotless. Here’s the real list:

• “Bloody” (used as a British mild curse).

• “My God” / “Oh my God” — misused as an exclamation.

• “Hell” — once, as a throwaway word.

• “Rubbish,” “stupid,” “idiot” — mild insults sprinkled in.

💡 Why it matters: Kids repeat what they hear. “Stupid” and “idiot” easily become playground staples, while misusing God’s name is especially troubling for Christian families.

😬 Inappropriate or Questionable Content

• Violence & Threats:

  • The villain (Nicole Kidman) tries to capture and stuff Paddington. Played comically, but the taxidermy threat may disturb sensitive kids.

  • Some chase scenes involve fire, flooding, and near peril.

• Suggestive Humor:

  • Paddington falls into a man and accidentally kisses him on the lips.

  • A couple of “bathroom humor” moments (toothpaste everywhere, flooding the bathroom).

• Scary Scenes:

  • The villain uses tranquilizer guns and scary disguises.

  • Paddington nearly burns in a fire toward the climax.

💡 Why it matters: What’s meant as slapstick comedy can spark real fear in young children. And while adult audiences may shrug off suggestive gags, Christian parents see them as unnecessary and avoidable.

✝️ The Christian Parent Grading Scale

Category	Grade	Explanation
Biblical Truth & Redemption	B+	Themes of family, belonging, and kindness shine through. But light profanity and irreverent language dull the message.
Suitability for Kids (7–12)	B	Best for elementary-aged kids. Preschoolers may find villain scenes too scary.
Language & Cleanliness	C+	“Bloody,” “Oh my God,” and “hell” bring this down. Not constant, but unnecessary.
Family & Emotional Engagement	A	Paddington embodies Christlike virtues: politeness, humility, perseverance, and kindness even when mistreated.
Overall Christian Values	B+	A redeemable movie with strong takeaways — but only after cleaning up the clutter.

🛠️ The Filter Fix (VidAngel / Enjoy Movies Your Way)

Parents, here’s the win: you don’t have to skip Paddington entirely — you just have to filter the fluff.

• Mute profanity: Goodbye “bloody,” “hell,” “idiot,” “stupid,” and all misuses of God’s name.

• Trim suggestive gag: The accidental kiss scene can be skipped.

• Keep the core: Paddington’s warmth, the Brown family’s growth, and the powerful message about welcoming the outsider remain intact.

💡 These services let you keep what’s good, pure, and praiseworthy — and toss the garbage, just like Philippians 4:8 commands us.

🧑‍⚕️ Dr. Mac’s Verdict

🚦 Yellow Light — A warm, funny, family story, but use filters. Without them, language slips and unnecessary gags leave parents cringing.

Best Age Range: 7+ with filters; 9+ unfiltered (for kids who can handle villain intensity).

Family Discussion Starters:

1. “How does Paddington show Christlike love even when people misunderstand or mistreat him?”

2. “Why is it important to watch our words, even when culture thinks certain words are ‘small’?”

3. “What does it mean that God welcomes us into His family, just like the Browns welcomed Paddington?”

   
   

🎤 Final Word from Dr. Mac

Paddington is like a jar of marmalade: sticky in parts, sweet overall. With VidAngel or Enjoy Movies Your Way, parents can strain out the sticky bits, leaving behind a wholesome, funny, and heart-melting story about family, belonging, and kindness. A beautiful story that reminds us that the outsider isn’t a nuisance but a gift — a reminder of Christ, who welcomed us into His home when we had none.