PADDINGTON IN PERU is expectedly charming and undeniably fun. I’ve heard two main takes on this film: first, that some friends hesitated to watch it because they hadn’t seen the previous two installments; and second, that this is the weakest entry in the trilogy. I’ll offer a third perspective, one that clumsily sidesteps both concern – I, uh, bearly remember the first two movies. So, firstly, I had no trouble jumping right into this one. And while I agree that it might not surpass its predecessors, I really can’t remember or pinpoint what’s missing.
My mom introduced me to Michael Bond’s PADDINGTON books when I was growing up, passing down a love for the marmalade-loving bear that she had absorbed in her childhood. I was lucky enough to watch this newest Peruvian installment with her at the Admiral Theater in West Seattle. For us, Paddington is one of those increasingly rare characters with true cross-generational nostalgic appeal.
As in the previous films, the supporting cast plays a huge role in elevating the story. Antonio Banderas and Olivia Colman shine in their roles, bringing big personalities and humor to the journey. It’s also heartwarming to see the Brown family grow, ten years after the first PADDINGTON film. That said, my biggest disappointment was the recast of Mary Brown, who was played by Sally Hawkins previously. She brought a unique sense of warmth to the character and is one of the few absences I noticed from the past two films.
Overall, I adored PADDINGTON IN PERU; it’s hard not to. It has the right balance of action, heart, and whimsy, but also, maybe surprisingly, provides non-superficial insights into the immigrant experience. PADDINGTON IN PERU is now playing in theaters.
