From London to the heart of the Amazon, everyone’s favourite bear is back!
I enjoyed the first two Paddington movies far more than any 40-year-old probably should. The slapstick humour is exactly my style.
So when I heard that Dougal Wilson, a first-time feature filmmaker known for his John Lewis ads, would be taking over from co-writer and director Paul King, I was nervous. But should I have been?
In Paddington in Peru, the lovable bear Paddington (voiced by Ben Whishaw) and the Brown family – Hugh Bonneville and co – embark on a heartfelt adventure to the Peruvian jungle and beyond, after receiving a message from the Reverend Mother (Oscar-winner Olivia Colman) at the Home for Retired Bears.
Aunt Lucy (Imelda Staunton) longs to see Paddington and hopes for a visit. But when the Browns arrive at the home near the Amazon, they discover Aunt Lucy is missing. This revelation sets them off on an exciting, perilous trek, joined by the charming and courageous boat captain Hunter Cabot (Antonio Banderas).
I liked that the movie tried something new. While the first two films followed the ‘fish out of water’ story of a jungle bear in London, it was refreshing to see the humans now out of their comfort zone. That said, the novelty wore off a bit too quickly, and the scenery grew repetitive after a while. Still a minor criticism overall.
While this doesn’t quite reach the exemplary bar set by the first two Paddington films, this one is still wonderful if judged on its own merits – even though it has lost a little of the charm along the way.
Of course, the real test is the reaction of the target audience. My screening was packed with excited children who seemed captivated from start to finish – my own 6-year-old included! He was transfixed and has never been this still for so long in his life!
I think I speak for everyone in that auditorium when I say Paddington in Peru easily earns a solid 4 out of 5 Marmalade sandwiches.
It may suffer a little from ‘third film syndrome’ – but is definitely more than ‘bear’able . . .
ESP Rating: 4/5
Mike Clarke
Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough, Out Now
Cast: Ben Whishaw, Hugh Bonneville, Emily Mortimer, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Antonio Banderas, Olivia Coleman, Madeleine Harris, Samuel Joslin, Hayley Atwell, Ben Miller & Imelda Staunton
Running Time: 1 Hr 46 Mins
Director: Dougal Wilson
Go to www.showcasecinemas.co.uk for all the latest film information & showtimes at Peterborough’s Showcase Cinema De Lux
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