‘Paddington in Peru movie review: Pack up your bear necessities and marmalade for a fun trip

A still from ‘Paddington in Peru’

Paddington, the loveable, polite bear with the “hard stare” for ill-mannered folks and a fondness for marmalade sandwiches, is back in this charming threequel. Paddington (Ben Whishaw, voice), who stays with the Browns — Henry (Hugh Bonneville), his wife, Mary, (Emily Mortimer, taking over from Sally Hawkins), and their children, Judy (Madeleine Harris) and Jonathan (Samuel Joslin), is very pleased to get his British passport and a brolly.

The Browns are en route to becoming empty nesters as Judy is applying for university while Jonathan rarely stirs from his room, inventing a slew of labour-saving devices. Paddington hears from the reverend Mother (Olivia Colman) at the Home for Retired Bears that his beloved aunt Lucy (Imelda Staunton, voice) is behaving oddly, perhaps because she misses him dreadfully.

The new American management at Mr. Brown’s firm is all about embracing risk— never mind the triple-laminated risk directory that Mr Brown has created. When Paddington proposes a trip to Peru, it seems like the perfect opportunity for the Browns to have a family vacation and for Mr Brown to embrace risk.

Reaching Peru, Paddington is dismayed to find Aunt Lucy is missing and decides to sail down the Amazon to search for her. Mrs Bird (Julie Walters), who stays with the Browns in London, and has accompanied them to Peru, promises to stay behind at the retirement home to keep things ship-shape while Paddington and the Browns travel down the Amazon on a riverboat with Captain Hunter Cabot (Antonio Banderas) and his daughter, Gina (Carla Tous).

There are secrets and mysterious maps which helpfully state, “begin your search here”, pointing at the ancient Incan site of Rumi Rock and a St Christopher medal, which might bring more than good luck to the travellers.

If one were to describe Paddington in Peru in a word, it would be charming. Shot on location in Colombia and Peru (the misty majestic Machu Picchu have a starring role), this adaptation of a story by Paul King (who directed the first two Paddington movies) based on Michael Bond’s beloved children’s stories, offers innocent belly laughs while slipping in lessons about found families and going home.

The refreshing, bright pops of colour are gorgeous and it is a joy to see the best and brightest of British talent burn up the screen. Colman is a hoot as an aggressive version of Julie Andrews’ Maria from The Sound of Music while Bonneville nails it as the risk averse Mr Brown embracing his adventurous side. Jim Broadbent as the antique shop owner, Samuel Gruber, is his twinkly-eyed self, offering Paddington sagacious advice.

Paddington in Peru brings to mind the Tintin adventure Prisoners of the Sun, complete with the tapir licking ants off Mr Brown’s face, the distinctive architecture of the Incan citadels and the supercilious llamas — you almost expect them to douse a furious Captain Haddock with water, which as Zorrino, the little orange seller (incidentally, oranges play an important role in the movie) says llamas do when they are angry. Staying for the mid-credit sequence will be rewarded with a vision of a favourite villain.

Paddington in Peru is currently running in theatres