By Riley Dauber
Editor-in-Chief
In such a rough political climate, one cannot help but search for something fun and relaxing to take their mind off sad events. Look no further than the third film in the “Paddington” series, “Paddington in Peru,” released on Feb. 14.
The “Paddington” films feel like a warm hug, always full of clever jokes and silly London hijinks from the talking bear, voiced by Ben Winshaw. However, this third film takes the titular bear and the Brown family out of the city and into the Amazon to search for Paddington’s missing Aunt Lucy, voiced by Imelda Staunton.
This location change and plotline are perhaps the film’s biggest mistakes. Instead of seeing Paddington adjusting to life in London or foiling a campy villain — the first film’s Nicole Kidman or the sequel’s Hugh Grant — viewers watch him navigating the rivers and jungles of Peru.
This quest drags at times and feels run-of-the-mill, and although the “Paddington” films often thrive in their simplicity, this storyline is more basic than simple. Of course, the boat is headed toward a waterfall; of course, the dad is afraid of a deadly tarantula; of course, the family gets lost in the woods. Each story beat feels reminiscent of former family adventure films, and not even Paddington’s quest to find his aunt can make it engaging.
According to the Guardian, “What quickly becomes clear is that more is less. While it’s an enjoyable family romp that should charm younger audiences, the action onslaught can’t conceal that this sequel lacks the inventive agility, wit, comic timing and, most crucially, the magic of its predecessors.”
Along with the location change, this third installment took on a new director and a new actress playing Mrs. Brown. Paul King, who directed the first two “Paddington” films, chose to focus on other projects — most recently, 2023’s “Wonka.” He still served as an executive producer and writer.
Dougal Wilson made his directorial debut but does not take as many creative risks as King. The dollhouse scene in the first film is iconic, while this third installment’s only standout is painting transitions inspired by Mrs. Brown’s artwork.
According to the Guardian, “[Wilson] is competent, if more conventional in his approach, but hamstrung by a threadbare screenplay and a frankly feeble hit rate of jokes.”
Sally Hawkins, who played Mrs. Brown in the first two films, also decided to leave the project.
“For me, [it] felt the right time to hand the reins over to another, and one can’t get much better than the truly wonderful Emily Mortimer; she is extraordinarily special,” Hawkins said. “I am, and will always be, in love with Paddington’s world. I already greatly miss my on- and off-screen family.”
Replacing Hawkins with Mortimer takes some adjusting, but the latter seamlessly transitions into the role. The Browns do not have a lot of screen time anyway, so this casting change does not stick out as much as fans thought it would.
The film’s other flaw is the villain, Hunter Cabot (Antonio Banderas). Kidman and Grant were fun and cartoonish in their villainy, but Cabot is quick to get on one’s nerves. His obsession with gold, inspired by a life-long family quest, does not offer many fun jokes, and the amount of screentime he receives compared to the other characters feels unbalanced.
The only enjoyable joke at his expense is the fact that Banderas plays all the ancestors; the Browns even point out the “family resemblance.”
While his relationship with his daughter Gina (Carla Tous) makes him more sympathetic and connects to the film’s overall themes of home and family, Gina herself is underutilized and only serves to help advance Cabot’s character arc.
Compared to Banderas, Olivia Colman absolutely shines as the unnerving Reverend Mother at the Home for Retired Bears. She is introduced via song and plenty of “The Sound of Music” references. Her over-the-top acting choices are a joy to watch, and her scenes with Miss. Bird (Julie Walter) are comedy gold. The film would have been arguably stronger if Colman had been the lead villain instead of Banderas.
Despite these flaws, the film still delivers on its charm and humor. The overarching message about the importance of family, including Mrs. Brown’s wish that the family spend more time together before eldest daughter Judy starts university, culminates in a tearful reunion and ending sequence. These moments almost make the film worth sitting through Banderas’ scenes.
“I saw ‘Paddington in Peru’ a few days ago and cried like 2-3 times. I love him so bad you guys don’t get it,” X user @skeletongraves tweeted.
Although the location change and villain negatively affect the film, any moment with Paddington and the Brown family is sure to put a smile on even the grumpiest viewer’s face.
The film is currently in theaters; the first film is streaming on Peacock, and “Paddington 2” is available to rent on Amazon.
Photo by Olivia Long.
Photo Caption: The “Paddington” trilogy had a disappointing third film with a change of directors.