16/45
Paddington returns to Peru to visit his beloved Aunt Lucy, who is now living in the Bear Retirement Home. An exciting adventure begins with the Brown family when a mystery leads them on an unexpected journey. The director of the previous two films, Paul King, decided not to direct this installment. However, he pitched the idea for this third film and was attached as an executive producer. The Graham Norton Show stars Billy Crystal/Emily Mortimer/Hugh Bonneville/Pharrell Williams/Michael Kiwanuka (2024). “Paddington in Peru (2024)” isn’t as good as “Paddington 2 (2017)” but it’s not as big a step back as some early reactions would have me believe. For the most part, it’s still a fun and pleasantly polite experience that’s as enjoyable as it is lively. While the more standard adventure narrative is less idiosyncratic than the vignette approach of the first two films, it still works well enough in this context and allows its beloved characters to continue to charm even when subjected to the classic sequel treatment, plucked from their natural habitat to explore the as-yet-unknown origins of the protagonist. There are plenty of funny moments, and the film is good-natured from the very first frame. It’s a genuinely enjoyable film, and sometimes that’s all you need. What it lacks compared to its predecessors is a strong emotional core. While a few of its moments are touching, the piece isn’t particularly poignant and won’t get your tear ducts working. Additionally, some of its character work is fairly superficial and, as my brother pointed out, feels almost like an afterthought. The plot is generally fairly conventional, following a specific formula almost to the letter. It’s fairly predictable and feels relatively generic, almost as if it was tailored to Paddington after its basic beats had already been outlined. Despite a few issues, there’s still more than enough to like about this film. Its charming cast is as strong as ever, with a couple of charming newcomers (Antonio Banderas and Olivia Coleman) chewing the scenery with glee whenever they need to. The special effects are consistently good, believably bringing the titular bear to life in such a way that it’s strange to think he’s never really in the same space as the other characters. When he’s not on the red carpet, of course, it feels like someone’s missing. The film is light and bouncy; it really flies by and is generally very funny. It’s full of a hodgepodge of gags, both visual and dialogue, and scenes of slapstick action that will blow you away. It’s a really good time. Ultimately, it’s a thoroughly respectable addition to the series that’s well-made and enjoyable to watch. It’s a shame that it follows “Paddington 2 (2017)”, because you could argue that it’s the best – or at least the most universally appealing – movie of all time, because it’s a really great family movie. If you’re expecting the best movie of all time (again) or even the second best movie of all time, you’re obviously going to be disappointed. However, it’s a solid effort that’s charming and funny in almost every scene. It’s much better than many similar productions. If you’re not expecting a miracle, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.