Paddington in Peru(2025) Written Review.

 

Paddington in Peru

Cast: Ben Whishaw, Antonio Banderas, Olivia Colman

Writers: Hamish McColl, Paul King

Director: Paul King.

**** and a 1/2 *'s out of Five

 

Everybody’s favorite bear(Sorry Winnie) is back with a brand new tail…  Ahem, tale that is just as funny and heartwarming as his other two features.  After being in prison in the last movie that Pedro Pascal told Nicholas Cage was the best ever( and it still is).  Paddington’s life was getting back to normal in sorts.  He just became an official citizen of the U.K. (A feat many U.S. people are looking into as this review posts) and it looks like The Brown family that adopted him are all doing just as well.  So everyone is just as happy as they can be, The end.   No, but wait there is trouble ahead as our loveable mammal gets some terrible news.  It seems that his dear Aunt Lucy(Imelda Stauton) has gone missing  and so the whole family sets forth on a mission to find her.   

 

Putting Paddington and his family in a road/ travel movie is just gold material by itself.  This could have been a take on National Lampoon’s Vacation or Little Miss Sunshine and it would have worked brilliantly.  Adding in Antonio Banderas as this treasure seeking boat captain and Olivia Colman as this secretive nun is great casting.  The actors all do a great job at making us believe in this CG bear that you can clearly notice the plot twists miles away but you do not care.  The brilliant thing about all of these movies is that they don’t need to rely on modern jokes or pop culture trends to make them good. Just good old fashion great stoy telling.   

The lessons this film teaches is important at any age and you can easily enjoy this if your are 8 or 80. Time will tell if this does beat out number 2 as the best. But for right now, Paddington in Peru has many great moments including.  The song Olivia Colman sings that welcomes The Brown.  Complete with a Sound of Music reference that was really quite funny.  Antonio Banderas playing his ancestors in a role that should have it’s own feature is really something quite remarkable.  Henry Brown(Hugh Bonneville) getting over his fear of Spiders near the end was both thrilling and heartwarming. 

Not having Sally Hawkins back as Mrs. Brown does hurt this film a tad but Emily Mortimer does a good job at filling in the role.  The fact that this still has Samuel Joslin and Madeline Harris returning as the two kids and a certain cameo you’ll want to stay past the credits to see.  Paddington in Peru is a delightful adventure you would want to revisit again and again.

 

Jason "The Vern" Hemming is a proud member of the Minnesota Film Critics Association (MNFCA).  Read other great film reviews by other amazing writers

https://mnfilmcriticsassociation.com/