Directed by: Dougal Wilson
Written by: Mark Burton, Jon Foster, and James Lamont
Starring: Ben Whishaw, Hugh Bonneville, Emily Mortimer, Olivia Colman, Antonio Banderas, Madeleine Harris, Julie Walters, Samuel Joslin, Imelda Staunton, Carla Tous, and Hayley Atwell
Runtime: 106 minutes
‘Paddington in Peru’ might leave you hungry for something more, but it’s an appetizing family film
The distance between London’s Paddington Station and Lima, Peru is 6,314 miles. Believe it or not, you can find a 16-hour flight for about $1,200, traveling from the British Isles to the South American nation.
Geographically and culturally, England and Peru do not share immediately apparent commonalities, but in director Dougal Wilson’s “Paddington in Peru”, both countries connect with Paddington (Ben Whishaw), the celebrated bear from literature since 1958, television, and feature films (“Paddington” (2014) and “Paddington 2” (2017)).
In the third film, Paddington and his foster mom, Mary Brown (Emily Mortimer), convince the patriarch, Henry Brown (Hugh Bonneville), to fly the family, including their human kids, Judy (Madeleine Harris) and Jonathan (Samuel Joslin), and housekeeper Mrs. Bird (Julie Walters) from London to Peru to visit our beloved bruin’s Aunt Lucy (Imelda Staunton) who misses her nephew.
Just like that! Hey, family is essential, and you only live once, right?
The Browns were anticipating a joyful reunion with Lucy, along with embracing the culture and trying new foods, perhaps. However, their plans became tangled in the Amazon when Lucy has gone missing! The concerned Reverend Mother (Olivia Colman), the woman in charge of the Home for Retired Bears, a lavish rainforest campus with a scenic collection of tree houses, informs the Browns when they arrive.
Hence, whether these Londoners are ready or not, the Browns attempt to find Lucy, who oddly left her glasses behind, in the Amazon Rainforest.
How difficult can it be? It’s only 2.5 million square miles, and - according to Google – “28 times the size of the United Kingdom.”
You got this, Paddington!
Fortunately, this PG-rated movie leaves out expected hardships while exploring this jungle, like contracting malaria or facing swarms of piranha. Instead, Wilson and screenwriters Mark Burton, Jon Foster, and James Lamont clear a path for a lighthearted adventure that may give young kids pause at times with wonders about Lucy’s well-being, raging river rapids, and a giant spider that would cover one’s entire face, but broadly speaking, “Paddington in Peru” is a silly but amusing trip.
Paddington’s matter-of-fact mindset of exploring the Amazon, like a weekend errand to the local Tesco, plays into his naiveté and steadfast earnestness. He will move mountains to find Aunt Lucy! Still, his accident-prone tenancies – in addition to the region’s natural hazards – cause setbacks, including a formidable “Raiders of the Lost” (1981)-sized runaway boulder, while the Browns attempt to leave no stone unturned.
Since it’s been eight years since we’ve turned the cinematic pages during a Paddington film, Wilson ensures to catch up the audience on the Browns’ years between movies.
Since 2014, Joslin and Harris have grown up as Jonathan and Judy. Now, they are on-screen teens, so we learn about their current plans during a couple of needed establishing scenes during the first act. Also, Henry’s new boss (Hayley Atwell) asks her team to embrace risks, which challenges him to step out of his comfort zone. Mary wishes that her family remain close, so a trek to Peru has the potential to address their needs and hopes.
Sally Hawkins doesn’t star as Mary in this third Paddington flick, but Mortimer’s charming, sweet-tempered vibes make her a noble alternate.
Atwell makes a bright and bold cameo, and Antonio Banderas reaps the most guest-star screentime as Hunter Cabot, a boat captain with questionable motives who chaperones the Browns on the Amazon River. Admittedly, Hunter’s story dives too deeply into the man’s flaws, which stalls the film’s easy-breezy flow, but his rough waves give Banderas opportunities for thespian challenges and amusing diversions.
Colman is her ever-present intriguing, plucky self throughout the film as the Reverend Mother, including a captivating and hilarious singing performance – with an acoustic guitar – of “Let’s Prepare for Paddington”, a visual and acoustic treat!
Meanwhile, Whishaw continues his stellar voice-over work as Paddington with a rich, soothing tone and a sincere, considerate intention, and he should keep this job for 40 more years.
Naturally, Paddington has the chance to indulge in marmalade sandwiches. Still, “Paddington in Peru” might leave you hungry for something more, but it’s an appetizing family film.
Jeff’s ranking
2.5/4 stars
