31/24
Paddington returns to Peru to visit his beloved Aunt Lucy, who is now residing at the Retired Bear Home. With the Brown family by his side, an exciting adventure ensues when a mystery sends 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 involved as an executive producer. Presented on the Graham Norton Show: 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 setback as some early reactions led me to believe. For the most part, it’s still a delightfully polished and entertaining 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 that context and allows its lovable characters to remain charming even when subjected to the classic aftermath of being taken out of their natural habitat to explore the main character’s as-yet-unknown origins. There are plenty of funny moments and the film is likeable from the 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 there are a handful of moving moments, the room isn’t particularly moving and won’t get your tear ducts working. Additionally, some of its character work is quite superficial and, as my brother pointed out, almost feels like an obligatory afterthought. The overall narrative is fairly conventional and follows a precise formula almost to the letter. It’s fairly predictable and feels relatively generic, almost as if it was adapted for Paddington after its basic beats had already been pencilled in. Despite its few issues, there’s still enough to like about the film. Its adorable cast is still going strong, with charming newcomers (Antonio Banderas and Olivia Coleman) happily chewing up the scenery when necessary. The special effects are consistently good, seemingly bringing the eponymous bear to life in such a way that it’s strange to think he’s never in the same space as the other characters. When he’s naturally not appearing on the red carpet, it feels like someone’s missing. The film is light and lively; it really flies and is generally a lot of fun. It’s full of gags, both visual and dialogue-based, and action scenes and antics that will have you off balance. It’s a lot of fun. Overall, this is a perfectly respectable addition to their series, well-made and enjoyable from start to finish. It’s a shame that it follows “Paddington 2 (2017)” because it’s arguably the best (or at least most universally appealing) film of all time, as it really is a great family film. If you’re expecting (again) the best film of all time, or even the second best film of all time, you’ll obviously be disappointed. However, this is a solid effort, charming and entertaining in almost every scene. It’s far better than many similar films. If you’re not expecting a miracle, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.