The Scribe, a newspaper famed for its previous expertise on the Paw Patrol movie, sent in two reporters to get the scoop on “Paddington in Peru.”
“Paddington in Peru” begins with Paddington finally receiving his passport and becoming an official UK citizen. Soon after, he receives a letter from the Reverend Mother of the Home for Retired Bears informing him that his Aunt Lucy isn’t doing well. Paddington and the Browns travel to Peru only to discover Aunt Lucy is missing.
They are left with no choice but to venture forth to El Dorado in hopes of finding dear Aunt Lucy. Failure to locate the ancient civilization would mean giving up on the family who saved him. While looking for Aunt Lucy, Paddington discovers secrets in his past that change everything he thought he knew about himself.
Zee O’Donnell, a newbie on the “Paddington” scene, goes head-to-head with Olivia Davis, our resident “Paddington” expert, as they discuss the question on every college student’s mind: What makes this a good kids movie?
Zee O’Donnell | Co-Editor-in-Chief
3.5 out of 5 stars
I’d like to preface this review by mentioning that I have never seen the other Paddington movies. I know — I am the only person who’s managed to avoid that witty British bear. However, I didn’t feel as if I had lost any context for the movie by skipping the first two.
As a seasoned babysitter, I can attest that this is one of the best kids’ movies on the market right now. I would much rather the kids I babysit go through a Paddington phase than the infamous “Ice Age” phase. Watching every “Ice Age” movie over and over again for two months was nearly the start of my supervillain backstory.
The acting in this movie was surprisingly incredible, and Hunter Cabot (Antonio Banderas) was the peak. A riverboat captain from a family of gold hunters, his many scenes talking to the ghosts of his ancestors were hilarious. I love a good comedic villain with a hidden heart of gold.
Every character in the movie had clearly defined motives and goals. Often, I feel as if kids’ movies will just throw in funny side characters with little actual purpose in the plot, but every character in this movie was given their own defined plotline and underwent growth before the end of the movie.
Judy Brown (Madeleine Harris) was my favorite because she went to college and worked at the student newspaper at the end.
This movie had nothing that truly distinguished it from any other adventure movie focused on getting to El Dorado. The plot felt predictable, which isn’t necessarily bad for a kids’ movie. However, it was very cute and had a sweet sentiment about the importance of family — not just the one you were born with, but the one you chose.
Paddington in Peru avoided the trap many kids’ movies fall into: dumbing it down for the audience. The story was simple, but it never felt like the jokes or plot were made too easy to understand, which really set it apart.
If you have kids, younger siblings, babysit or have a friend named Olivia, go take them to see this movie in theaters. But if you have arachnophobia, you should sit this one out.
Olivia Davis | Features Reporter
3.5 out of 5 stars
I grew up reading the children’s book, “A Bear Named Paddington,” written by Michael Bond. I distinctly remember seeing the first “Paddington” in theaters at 10 years old. I was amazed at the animation and the wonders of deepest Peru, but a little disappointed when Paddington left Peru and his species for London.
“Paddington in Peru” finally gave us a deeper look into the beauty and mystique of Paddington’s birth country. The film was full of rich colors and high-scale CGI. At the same time, the third movie in the “Paddington” series left me with more questions about the lore of Paddington than I had before.
My questions about where Paddington grew up, if there really is a home for retired bears that Aunt Lucy went to and why Paddington has such love for marmalade were answered in this movie. Yet, the movie still left me wondering. What species of bear is Paddington? Did his aunt turn 100 in the last movie and is she still living well? Why do Paddington’s scripted comedy scenes coincide with him almost dying in every movie.
Paddington has also not grown at all since the first movie, unlike his human family. I was happy to see the majority of the original cast brought back, even with 10 years between the first and the latest installment. The Reverend Mother, played by Olivia Colman (“The Favourite”), carried the whole movie.
The only actor who didn’t return was my favorite, Sally Hawkins, who plays the mother, Mrs. Brown. The character was instead played by Emily Mortimer (“Mary Poppins Returns”) who did a wonderful job but left lifelong Paddington viewers, like me, missing the original family.
The plot is predictable, and laughably, it reminded me of “Dora and the Lost City of Gold.” As Zee agrees, it’s a classic plotline for a kids’ movie concerning El Dorado.
I can’t say enough how visually stunning the film was. The story is enjoyable for all ages, and though I never saw Zee laugh, I did laugh at most of the comedic scenes, although we both were irked at the unneeded purple tarantula who was on screen for way too long.
Something else that did bother me was the random musical sequence in the beginning as the Brown family travels to Peru and the nuns plan for their arrival. Prior “Paddington” movies did not have a singing sequence, and it seemed like an unexplained nod to “The Sound of Music” where the nuns sing “Maria.”
Overall, “Paddington in Peru” is a great story about growing up and how dynamics change in a family. I would recommend this movie to families and those who have enjoyed “Paddington” installments in the past.
Photo courtesy of StudioCanal.