Third time’s still the charm with ‘Paddington in Peru’
On the heels of two well-received movies, “Paddington in Peru” arrives with a major change—the departure of writer-director Paul King, who went off to do the “Wonka” movies, replaced here with acclaimed commercial-music video director Dougal Wilson in his feature-length debut.
But worry not, as Wilson maintains the charm, vibe, adventurous spirit, humor, dash of emotion, and look of the previous films as Paddington now embarks on his biggest adventure yet, one that sees him heading back home.
When “Paddington in Peru” begins, our favorite adorable bear (voiced by Ben Whishaw) receives his British passport, perhaps a sly commentary on how it appears to be easier to go through the citizenship process in the UK when you are a bear as opposed to a human being. The timing of this passport arrival is crucial, because Paddington receives some rather distressing news: His Aunt Lucy, back in Peru, is despondent and not feeling herself.
Concerned, Paddington decides to go and visit her, and the Brown family rally together to accompany him. This dovetails nicely with mom Mary’s (Emily Mortimer, replacing Sally Hawkins) encroaching anxiety about the family drifting apart, what with daughter Judy (Madeleine Harris) preparing to go off to college and son Jonathan (Samuel Joslin) spending more and more time in his room as a gamer/budding inventor. Dad Henry (Hugh Bonneville) has also been encouraged to take more risks by his new American boss (Hayley Atwell), and so he sees this trip as a way to improve things work-wise.
When the Browns get to Peru, they meet the Reverend Mother (Olivia Colman, a game and welcome addition) who runs the Home for Retired Bears. But alas, they are too late, for it seems Aunt Lucy has flown the coop. While they find a clue, it’s an unfamiliar spot on the Amazon, and they find themselves contracting a father-daughter duo (played by Antonio Banderas and Carla Tous) with their own riverboat. So begins the real adventure, as the search for Aunt Lucy leads the family to bump up against ancient rumors about lost cities of treasure in the Peruvian jungle.
Light-hearted humor
Wilson’s oeuvre shows that humor has always been an inextricable part of his work, and that serves him well here. The lighthearted tone combines with physical slapstick and some charming visual displays that see Wilson reaching into his deep bag of music video tricks. The musical number of the Reverend Mother, for example, is delightful, and the way Colman radiates in it feels like she’s been aching for such a musical number her entire career.
Banderas gets to flex his humor muscles again, haunted by his ancestors in various outfits and periods. Bonneville is in his good dad mode, familiar to most through his role in “Downton Abbey” (though if you want a very different Bonneville, check out his devious turn in “The Agency”). Whishaw maintains his excellent Paddington (a role he continued on the TV show), and kudos to the crew for actually going to Peru to shoot plates for the visual effects. Machu Picchu and a rolling boulder make for a keen scene that feels like an outsized “Crystal Maze” challenge.
While “Paddington in Peru” may not reach the heights of its predecessor, it still keeps the warmth, humor, and whimsy that have made the Paddington films a surprisingly beloved franchise. It remains at the forefront of quality family-friendly entertainment that doesn’t pander to its viewers, and the themes of family remain snug as a bug in Paddington’s pocket.
