Paddington Bear has been a part of the culture for decades. Originally created by Michael Bond in the late 1950s. In 2014, Paddington made it to the big screen, voiced by Ben Whishaw. Through two adventures, he’s remained a beloved an iconic part of the culture.
Now, Paddington is back. He, along with his adopted family the Browns, return for a third big screen adventure. This time, we pick up as Paddington has finally become a real British citizen. That includes getting his first passport. His life is going well in England, but he continues to write to Aunt Lucy (Imelda Staunton) about his adventures. Aunt Lucy is residing in a home for retired bears in Peru.
One day, Paddington gets a letter from the Mother Superior (Oliva Coleman) who runs Aunt Lucy’s home. She lets Paddington know that Aunt Lucy isn’t doing that well and could really use a visit. Paddington is moved to intervene, and soon the rest of the Browns decide to join him on a journey. For them, it could be a family bonding situation.
Paddington in Peru takes the iconic bear and his family on an international adventure
Once they arrive, Paddington learns his aunt has gone missing. She’s somewhere in the jungle and Paddington is determined to come to her rescue. He finds some clues that lead to an adventure that could lead to the lost city of El Dorado. To get there, they hire a boat with a captain (Antonio Banderas) who seems to have his own agenda.
Can they find Aunt Lucy and get back safely?
If you’ve seen these Paddington stories before, you know that everything will turn out adorable. There’s a reason this character has endured in all its forms, including on film. The stories are fun adventures that are great for audiences of all ages. And they frequently have touching moments of heart.
That’s the case here, too. The story is predictable with a few fun sequences along the way. Coleman has a fun arc and a fun musical number, and Banderas has fun in his part. The rest of the cast, including Emily Mortimer and Hugh Bonneville as Mr. and Mrs. Brown, all do a nice job as well.
I thought a lot of the film was a bit too predictable, but the third act really hit an emotional high. You know what you’re getting when you come to a Paddington film, and this third adventure delivers that even if it doesn’t reach the heights of the previous installments.
Paddington in Peru is now playing nationwide.