Directed by: Dougal Wilson
Written by: Mark Burton, Jon Foster, James Lamont, Paul King, Simon Farnaby
Starring: Ben Wishaw, Hugh Bonneville, Emily Mortimer, Julie Walters, Olivia Colman, Antonio Banderas, Imelda Staunton, Jim Broadbent
Released: January 1, 2025
Grade: B

Paddington in Peru

You can call it silly clickbait but in 2021, there was a fun online debate about whether Paddington 2, released in late 2017, was the greatest movie ever made.  Over 200 critics on Rotten Tomatoes had posted their reviews with the film achieving a perfect 100% approval rating.  Okay, so maybe it’s not the all-time best (I gave it an A-) but it was still a wonderfully entertaining family flick with the scene-stealing Hugh Grant making for a great villain.

I’m surprised it’s taken 7 years to churn out another instalment but for fans of the kind-hearted, marmalade sandwich-loving bear, the wait is over.  The film opens with Paddington getting a letter from an esteemed nun (Colman) who helps run a home for retired bears in remote Peru.  His beloved Aunt Lucy (Staunton), a resident of the home, hasn’t been doing too well and it’s suggested the now passport-owning Paddington make the trip from London to visit.

Paddington’s English family, the Browns, go along for the ride.  The kids are growing up fast and Mrs Brown (Mortimer) sees an opportunity to have one final family holiday before her two offspring leave the nest and begin their independent lives.  It won’t be as relaxing as she thinks because on, they learn Aunt Lucy has disappeared in the neighbouring Amazon Jungle.  Apparently, she’s gone on a quest to find El Dorado, the lost City of Gold which many believe to be a myth.

Paddington in Peru does enough to appease the masses.  While it’s easy-to-follow, and has more fun, overexaggerated characters, headlined by Olivia Colman (The Favourite) and Antonio Banderas (Pain & Glory), it doesn’t feel as charming as the last two movies.  It’s too much humour and not enough heart.  It’s not particularly original or inventive either – a goofy adventure into the jungle looking for a truckload of gold.  Didn’t we have Dora the Explorer find El Dorado a few years ago in a 2019 release!?!

Make sure you stay for the closing credits as there’s a glimpse of what might be possible in a future escapade.  There’s more to come in the life of Paddington Brown.