I’m a huge fan of the Paddington franchise! It’s one of those rare cases where the sequel is just as great or even better than the original. So, I was super excited to hear about Paddington In Peru—it’s a film I knew I had to see with my daughter since it’s been a family affair for us since the first movie came out in 2014. In “Paddington In Peru”, Paddington continues to find himself in funny predicaments, while the kids have grown up and Mr. and Mrs. Brown are adjusting to life as soon-to-be empty nesters and figuring out their next steps.
(L-R) Samuel Joslin, Madeleine Harris, Paddington, Emily Mortimer, Hugh Bonneville, and Julie Walters in PADDINGTON IN PERU.
The third movie does feel a bit different; it seems to target younger kids more, while the first two had a lot of clever elements for adults. I really missed Sally Hawkins as Mrs. Brown, as she was a standout in the first two films. Emily Mortimer did a fantastic job filling in, but I found myself missing Hawkins’ warmth and charm.
Paddington is as adorable as ever, thrilled to be a British citizen, and little does he know he’ll end up using his passport sooner than later! He receives a letter from Reverend Mother (Olivia Colman) at The Home For Retired Bears in Peru. She reaches out to because Aunt Lucy (voiced by Imelda Staunton) seems to be a little off and has been missing Paddington. The Browns, Paddington and Mrs. Bird, head off to Peru. Mr. Brown (Hugh Bonneville) thinks this is the perfect chance to prove to his new American boss that he can take some risks.
Olivia Colman as The Reverend Mother
“Paddington in Peru” shows us more of Paddington’s backstory, including a glimpse of baby Paddington and his lifelong love for oranges. As we know, Aunt Lucy saved him and told him that if he ever got lost again, he should just roar, and she’d roar back. This really highlights their special family bond and how families should support each other during tough times. Fast forward to the Browns, Mrs. Bird (Julie Walters), and Paddington arrive at The Home For Retired Bears. Reverend Mother, after an entertaining musical number, informs them that Aunt Lucy is missing. Olivia Colman truly shines in this role, with great facial expressions that hint at her suspicious nature, leading us to suspect her involvement in Aunt Lucy’s disappearance. Paddington and the Browns embark on a jungle quest to find Aunt Lucy, where Antonio Banderas, playing Hunter Cabot, and Carla Tous as Gina Cabot, come into play. They have a riverboat that can help them search for Aunt Lucy. It quickly becomes clear that Hunter Cabot is a bit off, with a long line of ancestors that are depending on him to break the family curse. “Paddington in Peru” quickly turns into another tale about hunting for buried treasure, complete with a map and a person(s) who is chasing it. Adding another layer of fun is Mrs. Bird who decides to say behind at the retirement home and follows her instinct that Reverend Mother is up to something.
Antonio Banderas in PADDINGTON IN PERU.
Paddington, still voiced by Ben Whishaw, continues to delight, and I appreciated the beautiful change of scenery. However, I found myself missing the overly mischievous energy that Paddington brought to the earlier films. This movie had a slower pace, but it did contain some unexpected plot twists, despite the overall predictability of the storyline. Antonio Banderas and Olivia Colman were standout performances for me. I really enjoyed how Hunter Cabot battles his inner demons – his own ancestors – and in the end he realizes that the true treasure is his daughter. While I felt the storyline lacked the magic of the first two films, “Paddington in Peru” remains charming and is a fun family movie. It looks stunning, and even with his “hard stare”, Paddington’s good-natured and warm-hearted personality shines through.
Photo credit: © STUDIOCANAL SAS © PETER MOUNTAIN.jpg
Paddington In Peru in theaters February 14, 2025
