Paddington in Peru was always going to have big boots to fill. Let's face it, when a movie is part of such a huge franchise, a third outing is always going to face a tough crowd. How do you improve on the perfection of Paddington 2? Well, fear not, the first two Paddington movies have become firm family favorites everywhere, enjoyed by generations young and old, and you'll be pleased to know the third movie is no different.
But, with this movie being largely set in Peru (unsurprisingly!) it has a different feel from the first two movies - it's a bit like watching a spin-off of your favorite show. Despite starting and ending in London, the movie has barely begun before our marmalade-loving bear is jetting off to South America to see his beloved Aunt Lucy and soon we are thrown into a Paddington adventure like no other.
Of course, Paddington is a bear who attracts mishaps wherever he goes and, no matter where he is in the world, chaos will always follow. However, as soon as you take Paddington out of London, there is more danger than ever and this movie has it all - poisonous spiders, undercover nuns, a gold-loving boat captain, and a missing Aunt Lucy who Paddington and the Browns spend the entire movie trying to track down.
Emily Mortimer takes over the role of Mrs Brown seamlessly and while Sally Hawkins was great in the first two movies, Emily's Mrs Brown works so perfectly that within a few minutes, you forget the character was ever played by anyone else.
The addition of Olivia Colman (The Reverend Mother) and Antonio Banderas (as riverboat captain Hunter Cabot) is just genius. Both characters add something special to the movie and I could watch Olivia as the Sound Of Music singing Reverand Mother all day - particularly when she is in scenes with Julie Walters as Mrs Bird (who totally steals any scene she is in, by the way!). Antonio Banderas is also great casting, especially as he plays not one but several characters. Not only is he Hunter Cabot but Antonio also plays his character's many ancestors and is clearly having the time of his life as he dresses up for all sorts of hilarious scenes.
While the movie is largely based on the story of Paddington and the Browns trying to track down Aunt Lucy in the Amazon jungle, we also discover more about Paddington's past and where he came from before he was rescued by Aunt Lucy and Uncle Pastuzo.
Without spoiling the ending, Paddington in Peru isn't just a comedy caper (although Paddington riding a Lama to escape a runaway boulder is particularly funny) but it is also about Paddington's journey from the little orphan bear cub to who he is today.
This is the first time we see Paddington in his natural habitat... for once he isn't a fish out of water in London and it is the Browns who are struggling with their new leafy surroundings. Getting to know more about the bear we instantly fell in love with in Paddington is a real treat and makes the movie's setting in Peru really work.
All in all Paddington in Peru doesn't disappoint. It has a great cast and a storyline with perhaps more depth than its predecessors. There is also an ending that will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy, especially when we finally discover why our beloved Paddington likes marmalade so much. If you get to the credits and you haven't shed a tear then you deserve one of Paddington's famous hard stares!
Speaking of credits, I have one top tip - stay until the very end. If you get to the credits and think the film is severely lacking Hugh Grant as the deliciously devious Phoenix Buchanan, then you are in for a treat. His appearance is short, it's sweet, and it's well worth staying in your seat for an extra few minutes!
