Paddington leaves London and goes to Peru

After surpassing Citizen Kane as the greatest film in cinematic history, Paddington is packing his bags for a trip to Peru. First hitting theaters in 2014, with the second film in the Paddington saga arriving in 2018, it took seven years before he reappeared on the big screen. Created by Michael Bond, with the first illustrations by Peggy Fortnum, the character has become a film industry star, making a third chapter inevitable—though it couldn’t hope to surpass the acclaim of its predecessor.

Paddington vs. Citizen Kane: The Rotten Tomatoes Phenomenon

A fascinating case in which the bear adopted by the Brown family managed to outscore Citizen Kane on Rotten Tomatoes, the review aggregator, in 2021. This happened due to the resurfacing of a negative review from 1941 (the year Citizen Kane was released), which knocked its perfect 100% freshness rating down to 99%. Sadly, we must report that Paddington 2 also suffered a similar fate after receiving two negative reviews in 2021 and 2022, bringing it down to the same 99% score as Welles’ masterpiece.

A new director and a new mission: finding aunt Lucy

The third film, Paddington in Peru, does not quite reach the heights of its predecessors, possibly due to the absence of feel-good movie director Paul King, who chose to step away from his cinematic creation and focus on other projects, remaining only as an executive producer—his latest work being 2023’s Wonka. Another factor could be the departure of the furry protagonist from his adopted homeland, England, the cold and contradictory yet charming country that ultimately warmed up to the kind and lovable bear. The story, written by Mark Burton, Jon Foster, and James Lamont, and directed by Dougal Wilson in his feature film debut, follows Paddington as he returns to his homeland in search of his missing Aunt Lucy. The same Aunt Lucy who cared for him as a cub when he was lost in the jungle now needs the help of her young nephew. This family journey includes the Browns, once again led by Hugh Bonneville, though this time with Emily Mortimer replacing Sally Hawkins as Mary.

From London’s tea rooms to the wild Amazon

Returning to the places of his childhood will help Paddington reconnect with his roots, while he and his companions embark on an adventure reminiscent of Journey to the Center of the Earth and, more notably, Disney’s Jungle Cruise. The film leans into the young adventure movie genre, moving away from the comfort of English tea times in London’s cozy living rooms and into the perilous landscapes of the Amazon, where Aunt Lucy—now without her glasses!—is all alone. At its heart, the story is about self-(re)discovery and, above all, the importance of spending time with loved ones. It’s about sharing moments, not rushing to leave the nest, and appreciating those who love and will always love us. These are valuable lessons that Paddington imparts even while navigating the challenges of Peru—amid traditions, customs, and survival trials in the wild.

Antonio Banderas and Olivia Colman join the cast

As is customary in Paddington films, the story welcomes not one but two major stars into the cast. If the antagonists of the first two films were none other than Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant, this time, the adventure introduces Antonio Banderas as the explorer and gold seeker Hunter Cabot and Olivia Colman as the irresistibly mischievous Reverend Mother. Both bring humor and charm to the film, though if we had to put our faith in anyone, it would certainly be Colman’s nun. She is marvelous, playful, cheeky, and cunningly suspicious—utterly irresistible when strumming a classical guitar and breaking into her own version of The Sound of Music. Even though it doesn’t quite reach the peaks of the previous films, Paddington in Peru—with its quest for El Dorado and unexpected treasures—is a warm embrace and a comforting certainty: reuniting with our dear bear can only bring joy, along with the desire to learn from his boundless kindness.