Paddington in Peru: Film Review
I consider Paddington 2 to be one of the best films ever but I was hesitant about Paddington in Peru because director Paul King handed over the reins to Dougal Wilson. I needn’t have worried though – this animation is another wholesome delight.
One day, Paddington (voiced by Ben Whishaw) receives a letter from Reverend Mother (Olivia Colman), who runs the Home for Retired Bears in Peru. She informs him that Aunt Lucy (voiced by Imelda Staunton) isn’t doing so well and encourages him to visit so Paddington flies to Peru with the Brown family. However, when they arrive, Aunt Lucy is mysteriously missing, so they embark on a mission to find her in the Peruvian jungle.
Paddington in Peru is very funny. I laughed out loud constantly and there were a couple of gags that made me laugh so hard I missed the next line. Colman is absolute gold as a guitar-wielding nun. Everything she did and said tickled me and her musical number is absurd but brilliant. She’s a terrific dramatic actress but I adore her in this silly mode because she is clearly having the best time. Also, I swear Julie Walters is more hilarious at Mrs Bird this time around. One of her niche jokes towards the end had me in stitches!
High jinks in the thick of the Peruvian jungle make up the meat of the film. The Browns are led by steamboat captain Hunter Cabot (Antonio Banderas) down the river to find a location highlighted on a map left by Aunt Lucy. Cabot is haunted by his ancestors (also played by Banderas in excellent costumes) and is conflicted between helping the Browns and seeking treasure. The plot is quite thin and Cabot’s storyline has a weak conclusion but there is plenty of adventure and jokes to make up for this. Also, while I respect Wilson for trying something new and different, Paddington loses a certain quality being set outside of London.
Sally Hawkins decided not to return as Mrs. Brown for Paddington in Peru and Emily Mortimer was cast as her replacement. She does a wonderful job and I forgot about the recasting pretty quickly (even though I love Hawkins’s work). Mrs. Brown drives the emotional heart of the film as she is sad about her daughter Lucy (Madeleine Harris) flying the nest and feels like the family – including husband Henry (Hugh Bonneville) and son Jonathan (Samuel Joslin) – don’t spend enough time together anymore. Everyone else is as good as ever, but Colman is the star of the show, without a doubt.
Paddington in Peru comes close to the heights of its predecessor but isn’t quite as perfect. However, it is still a visually impressive animation and a charming and heartwarming adventure for all the family.
In cinemas from Friday 8th November