Paddington is a thoroughly pleasant little bear who ends up in London (after a harrowing journey from Darkest Peru) and finds a home with a thoroughly pleasant English family who, obviously, will benefit from his addition to their lives.

The film version of this beloved British children's book does a great job of translating the tale to the big screen. (It is yet another example of the types of movies that have re-entered my life now that 5-year-olds Wolf and Annabelle are a part of it.)

While Peter Rabbit, the other anthropomorphic movie that recently entered my viewing history, has a few uncomfortable moments regarding the deaths of Peter's father and Old McGregor, Paddington is a little more intense, particularly for younger viewers, in the pursuit of one character bent on capturing and stuffing the amiable young bear (apparently while he's still alive).

But, overall, it's a fun little film about a bear and the family that adopts him after finding him alone in a busy train station, where most people hurry past without noticing or caring that there was a bear in their midst.

Paddington is voiced by Ben Whishaw, previously known to me only as Q in the Daniel Craig "Bond" films. He gives this bear a pleasant, soft-spoken attitude (that's not quite as grating as the usual Winnie the Pooh voice).

After the death of his Uncle Pastuzo (voiced by Michael Gambon) in an extremely lengthy earthquake, Paddington's retiring Aunt Lucy (voiced by Imelda Staunton) ships him off to London -- armed only with a hat and a case full of marmalade -- to find the kindly explorer Montgomery Clyde (Tim Downie) who visited their slice of Peru years before. But Montgomery Clyde is long gone, hence Paddington's woeful predicament when the Brown family finds him.

It's the mom, Mary (Sally Hawkins), who fronts the idea of bringing the bear home with them -- "Just for one night" -- to the enthusiastic agreement of son Jonathan (Samuel Joslin), the disinterest of daughter Judy (Madeleine Harris) and the fruitless opposition of her husband, Henry (Hugh Bonneville). Hijinks, of course, ensue.

The plot centers on Millicent (Nicole Kidman), who wants to capture Paddington and display his stuffed remains in a museum. Other key plot points involve cab driver Joe (Matt Lucas), nosy neighbor Mr. Curry (Peter Capaldi) and the kindly Mrs. Bird (Julie Walters), among others.

But it all boils down to a bear and his family, all of whom grow to love him as we know they must. It's a heartwarming movie that I expect will be a children's classic for years to come.

And, even better, it's a movie that parents won't mind watching, too.