Paddington in Peru (2025)

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Growing up with the British Paddington shorts from the early 80s, I’ve always been a big fan of the character and his many (and often comedic) adventures. Needless to say I absolutely loved the 2014 film as it captured what fans love about the famous bear perfectly. Then along came the 2017 sequel that quickly became one of the greatest movies ever made while holding a special place in people’s hearts (mine included) even now.

When I learned they were making a third film, I was a little on the fence as part of me was excited to see another Paddington adventure, but the other part kept questioning how were they going to top the exceptionally high bar Paddington 2 had set. I’m glad to say Paddington in Peru is a pretty great film as it doesn’t come close to the sequel, but it doesn’t have to as it’s a perfectly nice (both figuratively and literally) follow up and a tender and sweet end to a trilogy.

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The story has viewers returning to the lives of Paddington and the Brown family, where the kids are nearly grown and becoming independent, while Paddington continues being the bumbling but always kind bear everyone loves. It doesn’t take long for the adventure to begin when Paddington learns his aunt Lucy has gone missing from her retirement community in Peru and sets out on a quest to find her with the help of the Brown family.

Naturally there will be all sorts of misadventures on this mission, as well as new characters the family will come across that seem to know more about aunt Lucy’s disappearance than they’re letting on. Some of these people include the Reverend Mother (Olivia Colman) who was close to aunt Lucy at the retirement home, and the highly eccentric Hunter Cabot (Antonio Banderas), who happens to be the captain of a private boat the Brown family hires to take them to a secret place in the jungles of Peru where they suspect aunt Lucy may have gone.

Watching the Browns and Paddington go on this wacky adventure was so much fun. It was nice seeing how the family has grown and changed since the last film, and actress Emily Mortimer does a great job taking over from Sally Hawkins as Mrs. Brown. It also wouldn’t be a Paddington movie if Ben Whishaw didn’t return to lend his perfectly cast kind voice to our bear hero, and I also enjoyed how Antonio Banderas had a lot of fun with his character and how it shows in every scene he’s in.

If you’re looking for a near perfect family film to see, Paddington in Peru is a great choice. It’s more of the safe yet always fun and funny misadventures the previous entries contained, and makes for an excellent wrap-up to a fantastic trilogy should it choose to end here. Also be sure to stick around during and after the end credits for a lovely surprise that made me laugh in delight.