Paddington—the bear, the myth, the legend. Paddington’s newest adventure takes us on a jungle cruise through Peru, a search for family, and a quest for marmalade.
Directed by Dougal Wilson, Paddington in Peru is the latest edition to the 3-part Paddington saga. In the first two movies, Paddington travels to London and meets the loving Brown family: Mr. and Ms. Brown, their two children Jonathan and Judy, and their live-in housekeeper Ms. Bird. Paddinton in Peru stars Hugh Bonneville, Emily Mortimer, Madeleine Harris, and Samuel Joslin as the Browns. Ben Whishaw returns as the voice of our beloved Paddington Bear. Julie Walters is Mrs. Bird. Antonio Banderas is in a central role as the conflicted ship captain Hunter Cabot, while my favorite character was the suspiciously innocent Reverend Mother, played by Olivia Colman.
The story begins when Paddington receives a letter from the Reverend Mother, a caretaker at the Home for Retired Bears in Peru. The letter informs him that his Aunt Lucy has been acting strangely and needs his attention, so Paddington and the Browns go to Peru to visit her. Upon arrival, they learn that Aunt Lucy has gone missing in the jungle. Paddington and the Browns set off on a journey through the Amazon to find her, picking up Hunter Cabot and his daughter Gina on the way. Throughout the movie, Paddington and his friends embark on many adventures, face many challenges, and “embrace the risk.”
Paddington in Peru explores many themes, making you think about the important things in life: from the melancholy feeling of children growing up to the moral conscience of a nun. Paddington’s personal story explores his identity both as a new British citizen with a new loving family and as his identity as a bear.
As the third film in an excellent series, I expected Paddinton in Peru to work as a finale and be the best Paddington movie yet. However, it pales in comparison to the first two movies, which offer exceptionally thoughtful plots, character developments, and classic Paddington moments. In Paddington in Peru, the story is entertaining and amusing but lacks depth. Rather than being drawn in by the storyline of the Browns, I was more invested in the mysterious and suspicious Reverend Mother, who offers the best comic relief in the whole film.
However, Paddington in Peru is still a feel-good movie that is a perfect watch for an evening of touching humor and emotion, with a sticky orange surprise.
The original Paddington was a fictional character in British children’s literature. His first appearance was in the 1958 Michael Bond’s children’s book: A Bear Called Paddington. Bond’s inspiration for Paddington came when he saw a little stuffed bear in a London window and bought it for his wife. On the bear’s identification label was written “Please look after this Bear.” The tag reminded Bond of how during World War II, Jewish refugee children arriving in Britain and London children being evacuated to the countryside wore luggage labels with similar messages to Paddington bear. As Bond told The Guardian in 2014, “Paddington, in a sense, was a refugee, and I do think that there’s no sadder sight than refugees.”
Over the years, Paddington’s story has continued to uplift many in his understated but charming way. His love of adventure, peace, and marmalade should continue to inspire us today.