Paddington In Peru Movie Review: A sweet and warm return, but Paddington’s third adventure lacks the charm of its predecessors
Paddington In Peru Movie Review: Critics Rating: 3.0 stars, click to give your rating/review,‘Paddington in Peru’ is a pleasant watch, but it doesn’t quite capture the charm of the earlier Padd
Critic's Rating: 3.0/5
Story: After receiving a letter from the Reverend Mother, Paddington travels back to Peru to visit his Aunt Lucy. But when he arrives at her cabin, he's stunned to hear that she’s gone missing and may have set off into the jungle on a quest.
Review: ‘Paddington in Peru’ is a pleasant watch, but it doesn’t quite capture the charm of the earlier Paddington films. Set in Peru, the plot centers around Paddington’s search for his beloved Aunt Lucy in the heart of the Peruvian jungle. This installment leans more into emotional territory than light-hearted fun. At its heart, it’s a family-friendly jungle adventure that places Paddington and the Browns in the middle of an unexpected quest. Unfortunately, the film lacks momentum for most of its runtime, with the screenplay offering few exciting moments. By the time the climax arrives, it feels like too little, too late. Of the three films, this is the weakest, with fewer laughs and a sluggish script, and it ends up being merely watchable.
The story kicks off when Paddington (voiced by Ben Whishaw) receives a letter from the Reverend Mother (Olivia Colman) at the Home for Retired Bears in Peru, where Aunt Lucy (voiced by Imelda Staunton) now resides. The letter informs him that Aunt Lucy has been missing him deeply and hints that something might be wrong. Alarmed, Paddington tells the Brown family of his wish to visit Peru, and they agree to join him. Upon arriving at the Home, they’re stunned to learn Aunt Lucy is missing and may have gone off into the jungle on some mysterious mission. A clue in her cabin leads them to begin their journey from Rumi Rock in the Amazon. They enlist the help of a boatman named Hunter Cabot (Antonio Banderas), and what follows is an adventure in search of Aunt Lucy—with a bit of a gold hunt thrown into the mix.
This film is also about Paddington discovering more about who he is and reconnecting with his roots. But it never quite scales the fun or comedic highs of the previous two films, and much of that comes down to a weak screenplay. While the antics of the Brown family remain amusing, and Olivia Colman and Antonio Banderas bring quirky charm to their roles, the humour feels a bit forced and lacks the wit we’ve come to expect. A change in director might be part of the reason—Dougal Wilson takes the reins here, while Paul King directed the earlier films. Sally Hawkins' absence is also noticeable, though Emily Mortimer does her best to fill the role. Wilson tries to steer the film in a more heartfelt direction, but it lacks the spirit of the original.
Ben Whishaw continues to shine as the voice of Paddington, capturing the bear’s warmth and sincerity perfectly. Hugh Bonneville brings some laughs as Henry Brown, especially in moments where he faces off against a tarantula or stands up to his boss. Emily Mortimer adds a layer of emotion to the film, while Antonio Banderas injects energy as Hunter Cabot, even if the jokes don’t always land. Olivia Colman stands out as the guitar-strumming Reverend Mother—her character is both endearing and enigmatic. However, the film feels disconnected from the world we've come to love: Mr. Curry is absent, Mr. Gruber shows up just once, and the neighbours in this film barely register. Despite pulling in familiar ingredients, the film struggles to strike the same emotional chord. It’s sweet and well-meaning but ultimately falls short of the magic that made its predecessors special.
Review: ‘Paddington in Peru’ is a pleasant watch, but it doesn’t quite capture the charm of the earlier Paddington films. Set in Peru, the plot centers around Paddington’s search for his beloved Aunt Lucy in the heart of the Peruvian jungle. This installment leans more into emotional territory than light-hearted fun. At its heart, it’s a family-friendly jungle adventure that places Paddington and the Browns in the middle of an unexpected quest. Unfortunately, the film lacks momentum for most of its runtime, with the screenplay offering few exciting moments. By the time the climax arrives, it feels like too little, too late. Of the three films, this is the weakest, with fewer laughs and a sluggish script, and it ends up being merely watchable.
The story kicks off when Paddington (voiced by Ben Whishaw) receives a letter from the Reverend Mother (Olivia Colman) at the Home for Retired Bears in Peru, where Aunt Lucy (voiced by Imelda Staunton) now resides. The letter informs him that Aunt Lucy has been missing him deeply and hints that something might be wrong. Alarmed, Paddington tells the Brown family of his wish to visit Peru, and they agree to join him. Upon arriving at the Home, they’re stunned to learn Aunt Lucy is missing and may have gone off into the jungle on some mysterious mission. A clue in her cabin leads them to begin their journey from Rumi Rock in the Amazon. They enlist the help of a boatman named Hunter Cabot (Antonio Banderas), and what follows is an adventure in search of Aunt Lucy—with a bit of a gold hunt thrown into the mix.
This film is also about Paddington discovering more about who he is and reconnecting with his roots. But it never quite scales the fun or comedic highs of the previous two films, and much of that comes down to a weak screenplay. While the antics of the Brown family remain amusing, and Olivia Colman and Antonio Banderas bring quirky charm to their roles, the humour feels a bit forced and lacks the wit we’ve come to expect. A change in director might be part of the reason—Dougal Wilson takes the reins here, while Paul King directed the earlier films. Sally Hawkins' absence is also noticeable, though Emily Mortimer does her best to fill the role. Wilson tries to steer the film in a more heartfelt direction, but it lacks the spirit of the original.
Ben Whishaw continues to shine as the voice of Paddington, capturing the bear’s warmth and sincerity perfectly. Hugh Bonneville brings some laughs as Henry Brown, especially in moments where he faces off against a tarantula or stands up to his boss. Emily Mortimer adds a layer of emotion to the film, while Antonio Banderas injects energy as Hunter Cabot, even if the jokes don’t always land. Olivia Colman stands out as the guitar-strumming Reverend Mother—her character is both endearing and enigmatic. However, the film feels disconnected from the world we've come to love: Mr. Curry is absent, Mr. Gruber shows up just once, and the neighbours in this film barely register. Despite pulling in familiar ingredients, the film struggles to strike the same emotional chord. It’s sweet and well-meaning but ultimately falls short of the magic that made its predecessors special.
