25/28
Starring Graham Norton and guests: Billy Crystal/Emily Mortimer/Hugh Bonneville/Pharrell Williams/Michael Kiwanuka (2024)
Story
Paddington returns to Peru to visit his beloved Aunt Lucy, who now lives at the Home for Retired Bears. The Brown family is on a thrilling adventure as a mystery takes them on an unexpected journey. Paul King, the director of the previous two films, has decided not to direct this installment. However, he came up with the idea for this third film and was involved as an executive producer. ‘Paddington in Peru (2024)’ is not as good as Paddington 2 (2017), but it’s not as big a step down as some early reactions led me to believe.
It’s a really nice film, and sometimes that’s all you need
For the most part, this is still an entertaining and delightfully polite experience that is as enjoyable as it is brisk. While the more conventional adventure story is less original than the vignette approach of the first two films, it still works well enough in this context, allowing its beloved characters to continue their charm even if they find themselves in a classic sequel. They are taken out of their natural habitat to explore the protagonist’s as-yet-unknown origins. There are plenty of funny moments and the film is good-natured from the very first frame. What it lacks compared to its predecessors is a strong emotional core.
The narrative is generally quite conventional, following a certain formula almost to a tee
While a handful of its moments are moving, the work isn’t particularly touching and won’t get your tear ducts working. Also, some of its character work is quite shallow and, as my brother pointed out, feels almost like an obligatory afterthought. It’s fairly predictable and feels relatively generic, almost as if it was retrofitted onto Paddington after its basic bits had already been hammered in. Despite a few issues, there’s still more than enough to keep the feature going. Its lovable cast is as strong as ever, and some delightful newcomers (Antonio Banderas and Olivia Coleman) chew through scenery with glee whenever it’s needed.
It’s a really good time
The special effects are consistently good, convincingly bringing the eponymous bear to life so that it’s strange to think he’s never in the same space as the other characters. When he doesn’t naturally appear on the red carpet, it feels like someone is missing. The film is light and bouncy; it really flies by and is generally fun. It’s jam-packed with marmalade, both visual and dialogue-based rap and punchlines that sweep you off your feet. Ultimately, this is a perfectly respectable addition to the series, well-made and enjoyable throughout.
It’s far superior to many of its peers
It’s a shame that it follows Paddington 2 (2017), which has an argument to make for the best – or at least the most universally appealing – picture of all time, because this is a truly great family film. If you’re expecting the best film of all time (again) or even the second-best film of all time, you’ll be disappointed. However, it’s a solid effort that’s charming and entertaining in almost every scene. If you don’t go in expecting a miracle, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
