Movie Review: Paddington in Peru

Movie Review: Paddington in Peru                                                                                                  6-30-26

In this movie, Paddington has become an official British citizen, Judy is applying to a faraway college in Denmark, Jonathan has become a couch potato who relies too heavily on his own inventions, Henry has a new boss who embraces taking risks, and Mary decides to take up painting. One day, when Paddington gets a letter from the Home For Retired Bears regarding Aunt Lucy, Paddington and his family go on a plane trip to Peru to visit her, only to find out she’s missing! With the help of cursed treasure-hunting sailor Hunter Cabot and his daughter Gina, Paddington must venture through the Amazon Rainforest to find Rumi Rock in order to retrieve Lucy. Meanwhile, Mrs. Bird notices something fishy going on at the retirement home.

Even though the movie has excellent CGI, outstanding production design, and some funny antics from out favorite marmalade-loving bear, Paddington in Peru is the weakest of the beloved franchise with a story that has too many similarities to Hey Arnold! The Jungle Movie and Dora and the Lost City of Gold, returning characters that don’t do that much to the plot, and a villain who just isn’t as interesting as Millicent Clyde or Phoenix Buchanan.

Since Paul King was busy with Wonka for Warner Bros, directing duties would be given to Dougal Wilson, who previously directed many music videos. Considering he never directed a movie before, Wilson didn’t do a bad job if I do say so myself.

Also, Mary Brown has been replaced with a different actress with Emily Mortimer. Her acting is fine, but it just doesn’t have the same magic that Sally Hawkins brought. Sally didn’t reprise her role as Mary because Paul King, who directed Paddingtons 1 and 2, didn’t return. She loved working with Paul, and she’s known him for 20 years. Instead, she would play Willy Wonka’s deceased mom in Wonka.

Speaking of Sally, why does she have a SmartPhone if the franchise is supposed to take place in the 90s? Were the filmmakers too cheap to get the license to use a Nintendo GameBoy (not to be confused with the GameBoy Advance), Sega GameGear, or Atari Lynx?

Despite all that, however, Paddington in Peru is a lot more rewatchable than other third installment movies that I know of. If you were disappointed with Despicable Me 4 from two years ago, however, then this movie will help aleviate those negative emotions.

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

As for what I think about Wonka, you’ll have to wait until January for me to review that movie.