39/39
Paddington returns to Peru to visit his beloved Aunt Lucy, who now lives in a retirement home for bears. Accompanying the Brown family, they have a thrilling adventure when a mystery sends them on an unexpected journey. Paul King, the director of the previous two films, decided not to direct this installment. However, he pitched the idea for this third film and was involved 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 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 standard adventure narrative is less quirky than the vignette approach of the first two films, it still works well enough in this context and allows its lovable characters to continue their charm even as they are subjected to the classic sequel-to-film thing. They are taken out of their natural habitat to explore the protagonist’s as-yet-unknown origins. There are plenty of funny moments, and the film is good-natured from the very first frame. It’s a really good film, and sometimes that’s all you need. It lacks a strong emotional core compared to its predecessors. While some of its moments are moving, the film isn’t particularly sharp and won’t work its way into your tear ducts. Additionally, some of its characters are quite shallow and, as my brother pointed out, almost feel like a forced afterthought. The narrative as a whole is fairly conventional and follows a set formula almost to the letter. The film is fairly predictable and feels relatively generic, almost as if it was adapted for Paddington after its basic rhythms had already been laid out. Despite some of its problems, the film still has more than enough to enjoy. Its appealing cast is as strong as ever, and a pair of charming newcomers (Antonio Banderas and Olivia Colman) happily chew the scenery whenever they need to. The special effects are consistently good, perhaps bringing the eponymous bear to life in a way that makes it strange to think he’s never actually in the same place as the other characters. When he doesn’t appear naturally on the red carpet, it feels like someone’s missing. The film is light and dynamic; it moves along very quickly, and is generally a lot of fun. It’s filled with a marmalade of gags, both visual and dialogue-driven, and slick action scenes that will have you losing your mind. This is a very good time. Ultimately, it’s a perfectly respectable addition to the series, one that’s well-crafted and enjoyable from start to finish. It’s a shame that it follows Paddington 2 (2017), because it’s arguably the best film of all time, or at least the most appealing, because it truly is a “great family movie.” If you’re expecting the best film of all time (again), or even the second best film of all time, you’re bound to be disappointed. However, it’s a solid piece of work that’s charming and entertaining in almost every scene. It’s much better than many similar films. If you’re not expecting a miracle, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.