Paul King, the director of the previous two films, decided not to direct this installment
Synopsis
Paddington returns to Peru to visit his beloved Aunt Lucy, who now lives at the Bear Retirement Home. With the Brown family in tow, a thrilling adventure ensues as a mystery takes them on an unexpected journey. However, he came up with the idea for this third film and was involved as an executive producer. Starring Graham Norton and the films: Billy Crystal/Emily Mortimer/Hugh Bonneville/Pharrell Williams/Michael Kiwanuka (2024). ‘Paddington in Peru (2024)’ is not as good as ‘Paddington 2 (2017)’, but it’s not as big a step down as some early reviews led me to believe.
What it lacks compared to its predecessors is a strong emotional core
For the most part, it’s still a fun and pleasantly polite experience that’s as enjoyable as it is snappy. While the more standard adventure story is less eccentric than the vignette approach of the first two pictures, it still works well enough in this context, allowing its lovable characters to continue to charm even as they are subjected to the classic sequel. pulled out of their natural habitat to explore the main character’s as-yet-unknown origins. There are plenty of funny moments, and the film is good-natured from the very first shot. It’s a genuinely nice film, and sometimes that’s all you need.
Despite a few issues, there’s still more than enough going for this feature
While a handful of its moments are moving, the piece isn’t particularly moving and won’t get your tear ducts flowing. Plus, some of its character work is pretty shallow and, as my brother pointed out, feels almost like a forced afterthought. The storytelling is generally pretty conventional, following a specific formula almost to a tee. It’s quite predictable and feels fairly generic, almost as if it was retrofitted for Paddington after the basic beats had already been written. Its lovable cast is as strong as ever, with some wonderful newcomers (Antonio Banderas and Olivia Coleman) happily chewing up scenery whenever needed.
It’s a really good time
The special effects are consistently good, and they believably bring the eponymous bear to life in such a way that it’s strange to think he’s never actually in the same space as the other characters. When he doesn’t make a natural appearance on the red carpet, he feels like someone is missing. The film is light and bouncy; it really flies, and it’s generally a lot of fun. It’s jam-packed with gags and gags, both visual and dialogue-based, and slapstick scenes that will knock you off your feet. Ultimately, this is a perfectly decent addition to its series, one that’s well-crafted and entertaining.
It’s far better than many of its peers
It’s unfortunate that “Paddington 2 (2017)” follows, because there’s an argument to be made about which is the best — or at least the most universally appealing — picture of all time, because this is a truly great family film. If you’re expecting the best movie of all time (again) or even the second-best movie of all time, you’ll obviously be disappointed. But it’s a rock-solid effort that’s charming and entertaining in almost every single scene. If you’re not expecting a miracle, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.