Paddington Bear is one of the most famous characters in British children's literature. Created by the writer Michael Bond on the basis of a real toy bear he gave to his wife, Paddington was loved by children for his politeness, extraordinary charisma, and the constant adventures he had. Like any truly successful story for the whole family, Paddington is also able to interest adults, and his character is more complex than it seems at first glance. For example, Bond created some of Paddington's character traits by observing the children of refugees who found themselves in London during World War II.
The first book about Paddington was published in 1958, and he has had plenty of television adaptations, but the first feature film was delayed until 2014. However, the expectation was justified: the film was loved by audiences and critics alike, and the second part is generally called a perfect sequel and one of the best films in the history of cinema. It is almost impossible to surpass this status. Paddington in Peru does its best to be at least as good as its predecessor. And even though some rough edges and roughness are striking, the movie is still kind, warm, and surprisingly dynamic.
| Title | Paddington in Peru |
| Genre | adventure, comedy, family |
| Director | Dougal Wilson |
| Starring | Hugh Bonneville, Olivia Colman, Antonio Banderas, Emily Mortimer, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent and others |
| Studios | StudioCanal, Columbia Pictures |
| Timing | 1 hour 46 minutes |
| Year | 2025 |
| Website | IMDb |
The third installment of Paddington Bear's movie adventures exchanges the cozy London for the temples and jungles of Peru. The initial goal of the trip is to see the bear's aunt Lucy, who lives in a special home for elderly bears. However, it turns out that she has disappeared. Now Paddington and the Brown family have to collect all the clues to find Lucy. At the same time, it can help solve the mystery of Eldorado and find huge treasures. But for the protagonist, real treasure is something that cannot be seen with the eyes or held in the hands.
The change of setting is the main innovation of Paddington in Peru. It also entailed a change in genre emphasis, because in the midst of ruins and thickets it is very easy to demonstrate dangerous stunts that are more typical of blockbusters. However, Paddington has never been a blockbuster, and it is difficult to distinguish its clear genre. Paul King, who wrote and directed the previous two films, found an interesting way to the audience's hearts. The filming of the third one was directed by Dougal Wilson. He is known for his work on music videos, for example, for Coldplay and LCD Soundsystem, but Paddington in Peru is his first feature film. And it will be noticeable to everyone, even to people who are not particularly interested in the inner workings of film production.
The first two installments of Paddington's adventures were as complete and even comprehensive as family films can afford. The third film is more like a collection of successful scenes held together by a rather mediocre script, somewhat formulaic segments, and, it is worth noting, timeless thoughts and ideas - especially about the importance of family in a child's life and the different meanings of this word. But where the film gained in overall action in the staging of moments, it also lost something on an ephemeral emotional level.
At the same time, flirting with the Indiana Jones-esque adventure genre still adds a decent variety to the story, making it more attractive to children and the average viewer. The date of the premiere in Ukraine was also a good one, because during winter, the warm tropics on the big screens warm you up almost physically. Wilson also cleverly shuffles situations, testing the characters' strength and putting them in interesting circumstances. It will definitely not be boring.
However, at the level of relationships between characters, interactions between different groups of characters, and the overall structure of the story, Paddington in Peru feels simpler and more banal. It seems that the main asset of the film is the teddy bear as a treasure hunter, but the audience fell in love with Paddington not because of the dynamics, but because of the almost homely feel of each scene with him. The third installment lost this comfort.
But Paddington's image has remained unchanged, and this is a huge plus. Polite, uncompromising, persistent - a true Briton in the sense of the word, which has been embedded in pop culture in dozens of novels, short stories, books, and TV series. On the good side, of course. Watching the bear is a pleasure. And even the fact that the other characters fade into the background doesn't spoil the fun. After all, everyone understands perfectly well why they should watch Paddington's adventures.
Another major drawback is the absence of the moderately provocative, almost rebellious humor that characterized the previous installments, especially the second one. Whereas in the first two films we dealt with unexpected moments and comic situations, Paddington in Peru does not provide the same sharpness. It's as if the film crew tipped the scales too much on the "children's" side. The plot, while enjoyable, often feels predictable, and much of it seems a bit artificial, overly "Hollywood," which is definitely not a compliment for a story with British roots.
But despite these shortcomings, the movie remains entertaining and positive, which is especially important in these difficult times. Paddington as a character continues to bring joy through his irresistible charm, and his naivety makes you smile and feel warm in your heart. Maintaining naivety and presenting it at a decent level is also a difficult task, but Paddington in Peru has done it well.
Paddington in Peru is still a great movie that is good for family viewing, but it lacks that magical touch that made the previous installments true works of art. It's a movie that allows Paddington fans to revisit their favorite character, but without the same degree of innovation and boundless fun. It's a great but traditional threequel.
However, not every film series is able to maintain a high level of quality even within two films. So Paddington's trilogy can already be given a plus for this - but the fourth installment will definitely need to be treated with the utmost strictness.