What could be more fun than a cross-country adventure and a home for retired bears? Not much I can think of, which is why Paddington in Peru is a straightforward, enjoyable film the whole family can get behind.
Our marvelous maven of marmalade is back and just as charming as ever. We get just enough additional backstory on Paddington (Ben Whishaw) to fill an entire third installment of our furry friend’s franchise. When his Aunt Lucy (Imelda Staunton) goes missing, he tests his freshly minted British passport with a trip to the western hemisphere. Upon arrival at the home for retired bears, a not-so-typical nun (Olivia Colman) draws suspicion as the Brown family aids Paddington’s search efforts. Things get even trickier when Aunt Lucy’s disappearance aligns with a centuries-old mystery in the Amazon. It will take everyone working together to solve the mystery and find Aunt Lucy before it’s too late!
I love it when kids/family films consider the adult’s perspective. The slapstick and shock-value comedy for the kids is automatic, but the subtleties that may breeze by children will get picked up by adults. So seeing homage paid to classic films like The Sound of Music and The Temple of Doom was a nice touch. Another thing I enjoy is watching actors adapt to roles as they age. Antonio Banderas aka “Puss N Boots” is hilarious as Hunter Cabot, the captain of a tour vessel that helps the Brown family navigate the Amazon. With the assistance of his daughter Gina (Carla Tous), they reluctantly help the Browns to their destination.
Olivia Colman is a hoot as Reverend Mother. She was part laughs, part song, and all bits suspicious. A nun with a secret lair? A retirement home for bears run by nuns but procures enough electricity to block a phone call? Doesn’t sound sneaky at all! Both a hurt and a help, Reverend Mother straddles the line of friend and foe and ultimately makes a choice. With hilarious plot twists to boot, there really is a bit of fun for everyone.
The cast includes Hugh Bonneville, Emily Mortimer, Julie Walters, Antonio Banderas, Jim Broadbent, Imelda Staunton, Madeleine Harris, Carla Tous, Samuel Joslin, Olivia Colman, and Ben Whishaw returning as the voice of Paddington.
Paddington in Peru gets an 8.5 out of 10. It’s a great bit of family fun with enough charm to sustain its 106-minute runtime. I enjoyed watching Paddington discover his roots while making room for adventure. With enough British wit to go around and lessons learned about family in between, the film is a welcome break from reality.
Paddington in Peru arrives in theaters on Feb. 14.
-Jon Jones
Photos: Courtesy of Sony Pictures
Genre: Comedy, Family
Rating: PG
Runtime: 1hr 46 mins.
Trailer: Watch
U.S. Release Date: Feb. 14, 2025