Paddington In Peru Review: There’s No Place Like Home

Paddington in Peru pulls the Browns out of London and into the heart of an age-old conspiracy involving lost treasure, hidden cities, and oranges.

It trades the family drama of the first two movies for an entertaining homage to classic adventure movies with vine-swinging action, rustic treasure maps, and complex scavenger hunts.

As suggested by the title, Paddington in Peru isn’t just another iteration of what we’ve seen before: it isn’t Paddington 3, with the lovable bear running around London chasing criminals and getting into mayhem. It’s a total sideline of what’s come to be expected from this series – if Paddington were a video game, this film is the refreshing side quest that drags you away from the main story for a few hours. And that’s both Paddington in Peru’s greatest strength and its biggest weakness: the difference in tone and structure is extremely welcome, and director Dougal Wilson does a great job of using the Peruvian setting to create a wholly new vibe for the film. But at the same time, the story can sometimes feel a little too streamlined and plot-heavy, which loses the childish spirit and lighthearted, laissez-faire storytelling.

The narrative itself follows Paddington and the Browns as they journey to Peru in order to visit Aunt Lucy (Imelda Staunton, of The Crown) at the Home for Retired Bears deep in the Amazon rainforest. But when the home’s Reverend Mother (Olivia Colman, of Wicked Little Letters) announces Aunt Lucy’s suspicious disappearance, the family set off on a dangerous quest with the help of an eccentric treasure-seeker (Antonio Banderas) to find whatever Aunt Lucy was looking for in the jungle. The film really takes this concept and runs with it, focusing closely on the details of this ancient treasure hunt and tying it neatly into Paddington’s own journey of family, belonging, and self-acceptance.

The strongest aspect of Paddington in Peru, beyond the entertaining performances from the entire cast, is the film’s dedication to honouring and referencing the classic adventure movies that it so clearly draws inspiration from. There are scenes that feel like they’re ripped straight out of Raiders of the Lost Ark, George of the Jungle, and The Goonies – but it’s always done with warmth and fondness for the originals rather than cheap imitation. It’s a clear homage to this era of filmmaking, and that’s something that previous Paddington movies haven’t yet tried, which justifies the existence of this sequel in itself.

However, this can sometimes work to the film’s detriment, as it’s often too focused on the intricacies of the narrative and forgets about the quieter, less story-focused scenes that make the other Paddington movies so excellent. While it’s fun to watch Paddington solving riddles and discovering ancient artefacts, Paddington in Peru doesn’t have any scenes to rival those in earlier movies that exist just for fun, rather than furthering the narrative, whether that’s Paddington flooding the bathroom, causing mayhem in a barber shop, or working in the kitchens of the prison. These are the set pieces that really stick in the audience’s minds, not because of how well-plotted and exciting they are, but simply because of how fun and lighthearted they are. Paddington in Peru has a couple of scenes like this, but the more focused storytelling doesn’t always give the film time to breathe.

That being said, Paddington in Peru is still an incredibly charming and enjoyable adventure that mostly succeeds thanks to its ability to break the mould and provide audiences with something new and refreshing. The characters are all given ample time in the spotlight, with Antonio Banderas’ enigmatic treasure-hunter serving as the clear standout thanks to his hilarious line deliveries and extremely physical performance. While Sally Hawkins does admittedly leave a noteworthy hole in the film, Emily Mortimer does a great job of taking over the character and ensures that the transition isn’t too jarring. Overall, Paddington in Peru might not be the all-time great family adventure that its two predecessors are, but it’s still an extremely fun time at the movies that displays a clear level of ambition that’s worth praising.

Paddington in Peru is out now in UK & Irish cinemas and will be released in US theaters on January 17, 2025.