Paddington in Peru Parent Guide

Paddington (Ben Whishaw) truly feels at home in London, where he’s made a home with the Brown family. But when he gets a letter informing him that his Aunt Lucy (Imelda Staunton) has been missing him terribly, he decides that it’s time to go back to Peru to see her, bringing the Brown family along for the visit.

However, when the Browns arrive at the Home for Retired Bears, the Reverend Mother (Olivia Colman) informs them that Aunt Lucy has gone missing in the Amazon jungle. Desperate to find her, the Browns hire a boat captained by Hunter Cabot (Antonio Banderas) to take them down the river to the ancient Inca ruin they believe to be Aunt Lucy’s destination. But the Browns soon learn that the Amazon is not for the faint of heart, and there may be more to this adventure than they originally thought.

I love the first two Paddington films. They really are masterpieces of earnest, joyful family entertainment. I cried watching each of them. It’s shocking that lightning struck twice for this franchise, and I had a feeling it wouldn’t do so a third time. Unfortunately, I was correct. That’s not to say Paddington in Peru is a bad movie; it simply doesn’t get anywhere near the heights of its predecessors. Maybe it’s unfair to judge this movie based on the other two films, but it’s hard not to when they are some of the best family flicks of the last decade.

This threequel lacks the magic the first two manage to capture. I think that’s due, in large part, to the writers’ efforts to commercialize what worked so well in the past films, resulting in a finished product with a soulless feel. Paddington in Peru is able to maintain the whimsical tone of the franchise, though many of the jokes are recycled from the previous two movies. Paddington as a character is still the earnest, polite bear we all love, who never means to get into mischief. By taking him out of London, the screen writers remove most of what makes him so endearing; his attempts to fit into London society. The change of scenery starts the downhill slide, and there’s no coming back once it starts.

To give credit where credit is due, both Olivia Colman and Antonio Banderas are delightful additions to the cast, and they steal the show. They both seemed to be having a lot of fun with their characters, and it shows in their performances. The rest of the cast are great as well. I can’t complain about the acting or the production itself, but a film lives or dies by its script, and this one simply isn’t up to par.

As with the rest of the franchise, the negative content is minimal, with some mild peril and slapstick comedic violence. As much as I was disappointed in this film, it’s still better than a lot of children’s entertainment out there, and kids and parents alike are sure to find things they enjoy in this international adventure. The themes around identity and home are also sure to resonate with many audiences, especially immigrants, who will relate to Paddington’s exploration of discovering where he came from while finding where he belongs.