Dir: Dougal Wilson
Studio: Studio Canal, Columbia Pictures (Sony), Marmalade Pictures
Review by: Robbie Fleming
Back in 2019, I binged both Paddington films back-to-back and fell in love with them (especially the second film). They celebrate the best of British cinema of the 2010s and make fantastic films for children.
Is this another great instalment in the Paddington franchise? Does the third strike the charm? Let’s dive in.
In 2024, Paddington and the Brown family return in a third instalment, where Paddington goes back to Peru, taking the Browns with him to visit his Aunt Lucy. However, when they get to Peru, they embark on an adventure through the Peruvian jungle to find Aunt Lucy after she goes missing. Ben Whishaw, Hugh Bonneville, Jim Broadbent, and Julie Walters reprise their roles, with Antonio Banderas, Olivia Colman, and Emily Mortimer joining the cast. With Mortimer replacing Sally Hawkins as Mrs. Brown.
Even though the film has a new director, it still resembles the style that Paul King brought to the first two films. It’s got that whimsical visual style and lighthearted tone, which help it fit well into the trilogy. The cinematography features some fun shots, and the Peru setting makes a nice change compared to the London setting of the first two films.
I do like the story in this one, as it juxtaposes the Brown family as fish out of water on Paddington’s home turf. The humour the franchise carries is still there, bringing us clever jokes both visually and vocally. While I still think Paddington 2 has the best story and humour, I think this film is an improvement over the first film as it shows more of Paddington’s continuing story arc throughout the trilogy.
Ben Whishaw delivers another delightful voice performance as Paddington, managing to keep up the same momentum he’s had since the first film. Hugh Bonneville and Julie Walters also deliver great performances, reprising their roles, while Antonio Banderas and Olivia Colman make excellent additions to the cast. While Sally Hawkins is deeply missed, I think Mortimer did a great job and managed to make the role her own.
However, my biggest gripe with the film is how the Brown children (Jonathan and Judy) are underused. Most of the time, we get a montage of what they’re up to, and they’re mainly used as background characters, only feeling important when they are absolutely needed. Jonathan and Judy were strong characters in the first two films due to their relatability, and here, it just isn’t the same.
Besides that, Paddington in Peru is a great third instalment in the franchise and still carries the charm of the first two films. The visual style, story, humour, and performances are what make it stand out for me. While I still rank Paddington 2 as the best in the trilogy, I’ll regard this one as my second favourite, giving it a rating of 9/10 and 4.5 out of 5 stars!
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