The Snapshot: Even if it’s less inventive and sharp as past Paddington adventures, the Brown family’s Peruvian holiday is still far above-average family fun.
Paddington in Peru
8 out of 10
G, 1hr 46mins. Family Comedy Adventure.
Directed by Dougal Wilson.
Starring Ben Whishaw, Antonio Banderas, Hugh Bonneville, Emily Mortimer, Olivia Colman, Julie Walters, Carla Tous and Imelda Staunton.
Now Playing at Midland Galaxy Cinemas.
Filled with warm, smart humour and the excitement of the Peruvian rainforest, Paddington and the Brown family’s return to the big screen is a welcome respite in the world of entertainment, and a great outing for this chilly long weekend.
Even though it’s been seven years since the record-breaking (and truly fantastic) Paddington 2, Paddington Bear (again warmly voiced by Ben Whishaw) is still just as winsome and endearing a hero as ever, now returning to his home in Peru to help his sweet Aunt Lucy (Imelda Staunton) in a surprise treasure hunt.
Matching the level of wit and multi-layered relationships of the past Paddington movies is an unreasonable expectation, and however bright and smart the film’s writing and production design are, Paddington in Peru does suffer from the franchise’s length and feels notably less original than the previous two films.
This is no fault of new director Dougal Wilson (taking over from Paul King) who has a clear love and respect for these popular characters. In fact, his greater focus on the women - including series newcomers Olivia Colman as a hilarious nun and Carla Tous as a boat captain - is a welcome change to the talented and funny ensemble.
One clear cast change is Emily Mortimer taking over as Mrs. Brown from Sally Hawkins, and she’s a fine (if unceremonious) alternate for the part. My big sticking point in the plot, however, is that the children Judy and Jonathan Brown are almost completely forgotten as characters in this entry.
Madeleine Harris and Samuel Joslin return to the parts, with the kids now teenagers, but they have almost no involvement or stakes in the story. It’s a missed opportunity, especially for a family film about the ties of family.
Beyond that, the film still has great action scenes that are appropriate for kids and joyous for grown-ups too. There’s also an endearing theme about Paddington’s mixed feelings about visiting Peru while living in London: as he learns, while the jungle may be where he’s from, it’s “with his family is where he belongs.”
Anyone in southern Ontario who’s been doused in snow this weekend should welcome the lush, warm thrill of spending some time in the Amazonian sunshine with Paddington and his friends.
Paddington in Peru is the perfect Family Day outing for all ages, and an un-bear-ably cute work of art.
One final note for the most devoted fans: if you’ve seen the first two Paddington movies, you must stay for a spectacularly funny mid-credits scene with an old friend. It’s a great cameo and the funniest scene of the whole film.