Ticketworthy! - Paddington in Peru

When a movie is successful and well liked, its sequels can go in one of two ways. They can add new elements and try to expand on the original material, or they can stick close to the formula that made the first movie a hit. Paddington in Peru very much does the latter. I don’t mean that as an insult. After all, if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.

The endearing charm that made the first two Paddington movies so well liked is very much present in this one, just lifted from the streets of London and dropped in Peru. Ben Whishaw shines once again as Paddington, it’s hard to imagine anyone else bringing the same lovable energy and goofiness to the role. The Browns and Mrs. Bird are of course back, though with a slight update as Mrs. Brown, Sally Hawkins, has been replaced by Emily Mortimer. Mortimer does an admirable job; she really sells the mix of frustration and pride that a parent feels as their children grow up and leave home. I’m not sure she brings quite the same balancing personality to the wackiness that Hawkins did, but dropping into an established character three movies into a franchise can’t be easy, so I think she does as well as could be expected.

The rest of the family is the same, and all of the actors clearly feel comfortable in their characters, so you get roughly what you expect out of them. If I have a critique to give, it’s that you don’t get very much of it. Mr. Brown has a storyline about learning to embrace risk, which he does in only the most superficial ways, but the kids are noticeably kind of just...there. It’s a little like the writers didn’t know what to do with the characters as they approach adulthood but felt like they had to be in the movie, so they just wander around and quip occasionally.

The new characters are all pretty solid, with Antonio Banderas unsurprisingly standing out as the riverboat captain and treasure hunter, Hunter Cabot. Banderas taps into a level of silliness that reminded me of his Spy Kids days. It’s very nearly annoying, but he walks the line well and never quite crosses over into obnoxious. Carla Tous does a great job as Hunter’s no-nonsense daughter, Gina, as well. I confess to not recognizing her from anything else, but she is certainly someone I’m going to look out for in the future.

The question, though, isn’t whether or not the cast is good. They’ve proven themselves twice, that really wasn’t a concern. The question is “does the Paddington formula work in the Amazon?” The answer is: mostly. The forest itself is gorgeous, and the visual effects are mostly unnoticeable, which is what you want. Watching Paddington bumble his way around massive trees, spiky plants, and ancient ruins in search of his missing Aunt Lucy never feels very different than watching him do the same in London. There are moments of genuine humor, and the writers utilize the new setting pretty well for their gags. It’s definitely going to be a funnier movie for children than adults, but there’s nothing that’s going to make parents roll their eyes and groan.

I was a little disappointed with the sound design in general, as the forest was oddly quiet. Ambient sounds aren’t something most people would consider, but when they should be there and they aren’t, it does make the whole thing feel less real. It’s a minor complaint, but it stood out to me. Otherwise, the entire production design is pretty well done.

All in all, Paddington in Peru is a simple movie to recommend. If you enjoyed Paddington and Paddington 2, you’ll almost certainly enjoy this one. If you have kids, they’ll have a blast. If you didn’t care for the first two movies much, this film is not going to change your mind about the franchise.