Paddington in Peru Movie Review: A heartwarming tale full of adventure and charm

The world around Paddington Brown is a positive one. It is full of people who are polite, kind, and caring; people who embody the spirit of bonhomie. It is a world that is reflective of Paddington’s characteristic politeness. Ironically, taking a brown bear—an indomitable force of nature in real life—and turning it into the politest being serves as a poetic metaphor for how appearances can be deceptive. The beloved bear, created by Michael Bond, returns for his third outing to embark on a journey to Peru as his Aunt Lucy goes missing.

Director: Dougal Wilson
Cast: Ben Whishaw, Hugh Bonneville, Emily Mortimer, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Olivia Colman, Antonio Banderas

One of the most alluring factors of the Paddington franchise is its recurring themes of family, oneness, and childlike innocence. Paddington in Peru brings back these heartwarming themes without losing its signature charm. In the Brown family, Judy is applying for college, which results in Ms Brown going through the empty nester syndrome, Jonathan turning into a high-functioning teenage slacker, and Mr Brown trying to embrace risks under the advice of his new boss. All these changes leave an air of uncertainty in their household, leading them to live separate lives under the same roof. With highly relatable issues, Paddington in Peru makes it easier to root for these characters. They are not larger-than-life characters going through metaphysical changes or caricatures that simply exist for comedy. They are your next-door neighbours who are nice, but quirky.

With all the different characteristics of the Brown family, Paddington is also back with his innocent charm. This film continues to put Paddington through trying circumstances, this time in the jungles of Peru. Going back to the jungles he once called home should have been a cakewalk for him, but he encounters wild beasts, piranhas, and worst of all, trying weather. Throughout all this, Paddington doesn’t break down; he still keeps his target intact, only wanting to find his Aunt Lucy. He doesn’t care about the risks or the rewards, he only cares about the people he loves. He continues to keep moving deeper into the jungle to find his aunt, and the Brown family continues to find him and bring him to safety, even braving the dangers of a jungle.

Perhaps an unexpected area where Paddington shines is its continuing homage to classic films. As Paddington travels along a river to find his Aunt Lucy, it is reminiscent of Martin Sheen’s voyage through Vietnam into Cambodia in Apocalypse Now. Antonio Banderas and Carla Tous remind us of the crew of boat patrol from Francis Ford Coppola's film, with their own stories and quirks. We are also treated to Paddington’s own version of the boulder chase from Raiders of the Lost Ark. Since Paddington has always been a clumsy bear, his way of escaping is a result of his clumsiness too. Even in the smallest of moments, a Buster Keaton reference from Steamboat Bill, Jr is added to give a sense of whimsy. However, breaking apart from all this is Olivia Colman as a nun in the picturesque jungle, whose singing and quirky characteristics evoke memories of Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music.

While watching Paddington in Peru, you laugh, you smile, and you worry, but you ultimately end up happy and content. Even with continued references to films, it is an original piece of cinema that stays fresh with a basic level of motives, to reinforce the idea of kindness and togetherness.