Paddington au Pérou

The first two Paddington films were great fun and full of charm, alongside some superb cameos. This film never quite gets going and you wonder what happened to the scriptwriters. Generally the performances are a bit clunky or barely fleshed out, and there are precious few laughs.

A real shame as Paddington 2 in particular was a gem, mostly driven by Hugh Grant being superb but ably supported by the prison crew. Paddington 3 is very run of the mill by comparison... it needed a much better script, fleshed out characters and funnier action scenes. An hour after watching it, you will perhaps hardly remember it at all....

Paddington in Peru is comfortably the weakest of the trilogy with the absence of Paul King and Simon Farnaby definitely being felt but this is still a delightful third instalment that loses none of the heart and brings everything set up in the first act to a neat conclusion thanks to another satisfying third act. It's a consistently funny adventure which never forgets the immigrant story at the heart of this as Paddington struggles to balance his past and future.

Ben Whishaw remains endlessly precious with another pitch perfect vocal performance so Paddington continues to be a much needed cinematic balm. Hugh Bonneville is really funny as he tries to be more courageous and Emily Mortimer is a worthy replacement even if Sally Hawkins is missed. Antonio Banderas gets to do everything Dial of Destiny stopped him doing, having a ball whilst he does it and Olivia Colman as a suspicious singing nun is another big highlight.

Dougal Wilson's direction brings enough whimsy through carrying over ideas from the predecessors and some new inventive ones as well as a few well placed references to other films. There's a lot of slapstick here as usual and it always escalates in unexpected ways. The CGI is pushed like never before, making it all the more impressive that the effects that bring Paddington to life rarely falter despite the sheer amount of CG bears this time.

All the key plot points and characters are there. But the script seems underdeveloped which meant the characters were more like finger puppets being paraded through each scene. Most of the time if felt like the cast were just waiting for their lines to be written.

The pace was also too slow which would have been helped by some good writing and perhaps editing.

The overall story is good and the last act certainly pulls at the heartstrings which leaves you feeling a certain degree of satisfaction.

I wished the script had more wit and charm to pump some life into the characters. The movie is like an uninflected doll. If it had air pumped into it, it would have come fully to life!

The first two 'Paddingtons' were superb 'family fun' films - but the third, "Paddington In Peru", without writer / director Paul King or London as its location, is not. The titular bear (voiced by Ben Whishaw) returns to his native Peru with adoptive family Hugh Bonneville, Emily Mortimer (replacing Sally Hawkins (shame)), Julie Walters, & kids - where they're pulled into a gold-hunting jungle adventure with the likes of Olivia Colman & Antonio Banderas. Old faves like Hugh Grant & Joel Fry cameo, and first-time director Dougal Wilson does fine, but nothing lifts the tame screenplay from Mark Burton, Jon Foster, & James Lamont. It's passable... but not a REAL 'Paddington'.

Paddington in Peru is a delightful addition to the beloved Paddington franchise, offering a heartwarming adventure that's perfect for family viewing. The film follows the iconic bear as he embarks on a series of gentle escapades from London to the spectacular landscapes of Peru, where he reconnects with his roots. As with previous Paddington films, the tone is light, the humor is gentle, making it easy to watch for both kids and adults alike.

The story is simple yet engaging, designed to keep children entertained without overwhelming them. It's the kind of film that doesn't demand much from its viewers - ideal for a family movie night when you're just looking to relax and enjoy something wholesome.

The animation and cinematography continue to impress, with the lush landscapes of Peru offering a beautiful backdrop to Paddington's charming adventures. The characters, old and new, are endearing, and the bear's optimistic, polite nature continues to be a highlight.

While the film doesn't delve deeply into complex themes, it's a warm, simple watch that succeeds in its goal: to keep kids happy and entertained for an hour or so, with just enough charm and humor to win over adults as well. If you're looking for family entertainment that's easy to digest and reliably heartwarming, Paddington in Peru is a solid choice.