Review: ‘Paddington in Peru’ surprisingly takes the bear out of his element
‘Paddington in Peru’ returns the loveable bear to his native rainforest on a quest to save his aunt that will unknowingly benefit him as well.
There are people (and bears) who want nothing more than to find their place in the world. When they finally do, it’s difficult to ever leave again. But the draw of a loved one in trouble can be enough to push one out of their new comfortable life and back into the uneasiness of their past. Of course, it helps if your newfound family is willing to tag along for moral support. In Paddington in Peru, the loveable bear must return to the rainforest to help his aunt.
Paddington (voice of Ben Whishaw) just got his British passport, but he’s going to need to use it sooner than expected. The Brown family was preparing for a visit from Paddington’s Aunt Lucy (voice of Imelda Staunton) when he receives a letter from the Reverend Mother (Olivia Colman) that runs the Home for Retired Bears noting that she’s not well. Mrs. Brown (Emily Mortimer) has felt the family is drifting apart lately, and sees this as a great opportunity for them to help Paddington and do something together. Of course, Mr. Brown’s (Hugh Bonneville) risk-adverse approach to life makes a trip to the Peruvian rainforest more than a little stressful. Shortly after arriving, they hire Hunter Cabot (Antonio Banderas) and his daughter Gina’s (Carla Tous) tour boat to aid them on their adventure.
While Paddington is the adorably appealing centre of the franchise, much of the series’ likeability rests on the many quirky characters that populate his new life. However, removing the bear from his idiosyncratic London community means they exchange their eccentric neighbours for just a couple of big personalities. Banderas’ riverboat captain joyfully welcomes the Browns aboard, but he is deeply and literally haunted by his ancestors’ obsession with a lost treasure to which Aunt Lucy might be connected. Colman is even more amusing as the retired bears’ caretaker. She’s infallibly cheery even when what she is saying contradicts her positivity, making the Reverend Mother one of the film’s highlights. That said, the majority of the film rests on the Brown family’s shoulders with Bonneville’s anxiety leading the charge.
Paddington seems much less comfortable in his native rainforest than his London neighbourhood, though he does find some interesting ways to occasionally blend the two worlds — especially via his love of marmalade. Nevertheless, the jungle setting can be somewhat monotonous, so they find ways to break the repetition with hazardous plants, dangerous creatures and ancient artifacts. The result is a less evenly paced narrative than the previous films, though it does still have its moments of cuteness and personal growth. In the end, it feels like the narrative takes the long way around to its final destination in order to fit in some additional sights or, in this case, character showcases.
The film is still delightful, but not quite on par with its predecessors.
Director: Dougal Wilson
Starring: Hugh Bonneville, Emily Mortimer and Ben Whishaw
