Since our last encounter with Paddington (voiced by Ben Whishaw), much has changed for the Brown family. Some time has passed, and both Brown children have grown significantly, meaning the family hasn’t spent much time together recently. One day, Paddington receives a letter from Reverend Mother (Olivia Colman), who manages a home for retired bears in Peru. The letter states that Aunt Lucy (Imelda Staunton) deeply misses Paddington. Feeling saddened by this news, Paddington and the Brown family decide to journey to Peru.
When Paddington arrives at the Home for Retired Bears, he discovers that Aunt Lucy is missing. He only finds a few clues indicating her possible whereabouts, including a map and her beloved bracelet. Determined to find her, Paddington and the Brown family venture deeper into Peru and hire a boat captain named Hunter Cabot, played by Antonio Banderas. As they uncover more mysteries, Paddington and the Browns embark on a quest to locate the legendary city of El Dorado. Will Paddington be able to find Aunt Lucy, and can they all discover the long-lost city of gold?
For those who may not know, Paddington in Peru is the third instalment in the popular Paddington franchise. Unlike the first two films, which Paul King directed, this film is a directorial debut from Dougal Wilson. Wilson is known for his work on several short films, including Largo al Factotum (2009), No Pressure (2010), and Rubbish (2007). Paul King remains an executive producer. As with the other instalments in the franchise, Paddington in Peru is a family comedy. However, in his newest adventure in Peru, a strong element of adventure is added, which makes this instalment unique. Parents should note that I found this film to be the darkest and possibly the scariest in the franchise for younger audiences. Scarier scenes include moments where Paddington experiences scary dreams and characters talk about curses or encounter ancestral ghosts.
I loved seeing Paddington and the Browns explore new territory that we hadn’t seen before. There is a strong sense of adventure, mystery, and fun, along with the revelation of greater details about Paddington’s background as the film progresses. The villain is unknown at the story’s start, which adds a unique twist to the film. Additionally, it is packed with various film references and nods, including tributes to The Sound of Music and Indiana Jones. The humour remains light-hearted, silly, and wacky, with Paddington often making clumsy mistakes throughout. Once again, the film’s CGI and visuals are commendable, with the details on Paddington himself being particularly sharp and impressive.
While the film presents a more mysterious atmosphere than ever before through its new setting, the journey and overall plot are less intense compared to the previous instalment. Even during moments of action and adventure, I sometimes felt less engaged, especially when specific outcomes were predictable. Although there are heartfelt moments throughout, it wasn’t until the final fifteen minutes that I felt the film truly excelled. There are also some treasured surprises for those willing to be patient in the end credits.
Overall, as a directorial debut from Dougal Wilson, it’s great to see Paddington and the Brown family going on a journey unlike anything we’ve seen before. The adventure aspect of the film is exciting, and the gags are once again light-hearted and enjoyable for all ages, even if the outcomes of each joke are predictable. Paddington in Peru also gets a little darker than previous instalments, which may frighten younger audiences, especially in scenes where Paddington has terrible dreams or characters interact with ancestral ghosts. As for heartfelt moments, the film achieves this once again, but it requires patience from its audience to get there. The film’s final moments were profound and impactful, again delivering a great message for all ages. Everything else, unfortunately, feels like a step down compared to the past films. Nevertheless, it’s still fun—brainless, with plenty of randomness and positive messaging combined. Lastly, I strongly advise viewers to stay for not just one but both end-credit sequences, which offered a delightful surprise.
Paddington in Peru (2024) is now available in Australian cinemas starting January 1st!
FILM SCORE: 7.1/10
Published: 14th December 2024
Written by: Peter Walkden
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