23/25
The director of the previous two films, Paul King, decided not to direct this installment
Paddington returns to Peru to visit his beloved Aunt Lucy, who now lives in the Bear Nursing Home. He and the Brown family embark on an exciting adventure when a mystery throws them on an unexpected journey.
It is a consistently entertaining adventure that never forgets the immigrant story at its center as Paddington struggles to find a balance between his past and his future
However, he came up with the idea for this third film and served as an executive producer on the film Graham Norton and guests: Billy Crystal/Emily Mortimer/Hugh Bonneville/Pharrell Williams/Michael Kiwanuka (2024). Paddington in Peru is perhaps the weakest of the trilogy, with the absence of Paul King and Simon Farnaby definitely felt, but it is still a wonderful third installment that does not lose heart and brings everything established in the first act to a clean conclusion, thanks to another satisfying third act.
Ben Whishaw remains invaluable with another perfect vocal performance, so Paddington continues to be a much-needed balm in the cinema
Hugh Bonneville is genuinely funny as he tries to be more daring, and Emily Mortimer is a worthy replacement, even if Sally Hawkins is missing. Antonio Banderas can do everything Dial of Destiny prevented him from doing, he has the balls to do it, and Olivia Colman as the shadowy singing nun is another major highlight.
As usual, there are plenty of slapstick here, and they always escalate in unexpected ways
Dougal Wilson’s direction brings just enough whimsy by carrying over ideas from his predecessors and some new inventive ones, as well as a few well-placed references to other films. The CGI is improved like never before, which makes it all the more impressive, as the effects that bring Paddington to life rarely falter despite the sheer amount of CG bears this time around.