41/49
Paddington returns to Peru to visit his beloved Aunt Lucy, who now lives at the Retirement Bears Home. The Brown family embarks on an exciting adventure when a mystery takes them on an unexpected journey. Paul King, the director of the previous two films, decided not to direct this installment. However, he pitched the idea for this third film and is on board as an executive producer. The Graham Norton Show stars Billy Crystal / Emily Mortimer / Hugh Bonneville / Pharrell Williams / Michael Kiwanuka (2024). ‘Paddington Peru (2024)’ is not as good as ‘Paddington 2 (2017)’, but it’s not as big a step forward as some early reactions led me to believe. For the most part, it’s still a fun and pleasantly polite experience, both enjoyable and energetic. While the more standard adventure story is less distinctive than the vignette approach of the first two pictures, it still works well enough in this context, allowing its charming characters to continue to captivate even as they are dragged out of their natural habitat to explore the still-unknown origins of the main character. There are plenty of funny moments, and the film is well-meaning from the very first frame. It’s a truly great film, and sometimes that’s all you need. It lacks a strong emotional core compared to its predecessors. While a few of its moments are moving, the track isn’t particularly emotional and won’t make you cry. Also, some of its character work is rather shallow and, as my brother pointed out, almost feels like a forced sequel. Overall, the story is fairly conventional and follows a formula almost to the end. It’s fairly predictable and feels fairly generic, almost as if it was adapted for Paddington once its basic beats were already established. Despite a few issues, this feature still has more than enough to please. Its charming cast is as strong as ever, with some fine newcomers (Antonio Banderas and Olivia Coleman) chewing the scenery with glee when needed. The special effects are consistently good, with the eponymous bear seemingly brought to life in a way that makes it strange to think he’s never in the same space as the other characters. When he doesn’t appear naturally on the red carpet, something feels missing. The film is light and airy; it really flies and is generally a lot of fun. It’s packed with visuals, dialogue and jaw-dropping action. It’s a very good time. Ultimately, it’s a perfectly respectable addition to its series that’s well-made and enjoyable. It’s a shame it’s followed by “Paddington 2 (2017),” because there’s an argument to be made that it’s the best, or at least the most engaging, picture of all time, because it’s truly a great family film. If you’re expecting the greatest movie of all time (again) or even the second greatest movie of all time, you’re obviously going to be disappointed. Still, it’s a solid effort, charming and entertaining in almost every scene. It’s much better than many of its peers. If you’re not expecting a miracle, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
