Paddington in Peru

 

Paddington in Peru
Starring Ben Whishaw, Hugh Bonneville, Emily Mortimer, Antonio Banderas
Directed by Dougal Wilson

When you have a movie that holds a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes that's listed by many as the "worst in the franchise," then you've got yourself a great problem, because when the worst is still hailed as a fantastic film, you're in for a triple-threat treat. The "Paddington" franchise is a unique one, in that none of them are particularly strong when you consider some of the greatest films ever made, yet each one has made a lasting impact on the cinematic and popular zeitgeist that even Nicholas Cage mentions its eternal presence in "The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent." The exploits of the lovable Peruvian bear who travels to England and dons an old red hat, battered suitcase, duffel coat and love of marmalade sandwiches have touched the hearts of children from 1-92 (and even older), and while none of the films hold any exciting life-or-death situations, they've each touched the hearts of people who watch them. They're pure dopamine, giving you an escape from the mean, cruel world and shows you that there's still goodness out there, and if we're kind and polite, the world will be right.

Paddington (voiced by Ben Whishaw) is living his best life in England with his adoptive human family the Browns, and constantly writes to his Aunt Lucy (voiced by Imelda Staunton) who's living in a home for retired bears in Peru, under the supervision of the Reverend Mother (Olivia Colman). One day he receives a note from the Reverend Mother expressing concern over Lucy's mental well-being, saying she really misses Paddington, which leads him and the Browns to travel to Peru to pay her a visit. Upon arriving, however, they learn that Lucy has disappeared in the Amazon, and they set out to find her.

The "Paddington" movies are exceptional in their storytelling, launching the long-running children's novel series to the big screen in big ways, making them instantly lovable to critics and audiences alike. The first film holds a 96% critics and 80% audience rating, and the second film holds a whopping 99% critics and 89% audience rating, making it a rare sequel better than the original. The third film currently holds 93% critics and 90% audience, and along with many others I agree it's the weakest of the trilogy, but that's like saying eggs are the weakest of breakfast foods behind pancakes and bacon. All three films are masterpieces in their craft, and while none will ever win an Academy Award, they've done what many Academy Award-winning films have been unable to do: instill a case of wonder and hopefulness in the viewers.

This time around, Paddington and his family head to Peru to find his missing Aunt Lucy, sending them into a trek in the Amazon to find her, and finding loads of adventure along the way. Clues point to Aunt Lucy searching for the fabled lost city of El Dorado, which is a place being hunted by Hunter Cabot, who takes the family down the Amazon river under the guise to find Aunt Lucy but secretly wants the gold the city is said to inhabit. Yet he's not the only obstacle Paddington and company faces, as jungle threats and other semi-shocking threats lurk in the shadows, but as long as the family sticks together, there's nothing they can't accomplish.

Ben Whishaw once again holds the film on his vocal shoulders, voicing Paddington with all the love and care you'd expect from someone that's voiced him since 2014, making him as lovable as always. You love seeing Paddington get into some good ole-fashioned slapstick comedy such as trying to take a passport picture or driving a boat through rough waters, and even though he gets himself into some tough jams (pun intended), you always know he'll come out on top - even if it means flying on his umbrella better than Mary Poppins could ever do. Hugh Bonneville and Emily Mortimer also provide great performances as Henry and Mary Brown, who are dealing with their own struggles - Henry's new boss (a surprising role for Hayley Atwell) is all about adventure and danger, while Henry always plays it safe, and Mary is dealing with her children leaving the nest - still manage to hold the family together. Julie Walters once again steals the show as Mrs. Bird who has an investigation of her own, and Antonio Banderas continues to enjoy his career as the flawed Hunter Cabot (along with his ancestors, who are all laugh-out-loud funny). Yet the scene stealer is Oscar-winner Olivia Colman, who plays the Reverend Mother with hilarious aplomb, even spoofing the classic "Sound of Music" with her own musical number.

"Paddington in Peru" is a film that carries a lot on its shoulders, especially following "Paddington 2," and has some strikes going against it heading into it being put on the big screen. Paul King directed the first two films, but didn't return for the third, instead handing the reigns to first-time director Dougal Wilson. Sally Hawkins, who played the matriarch Mary Brown in the first two films, also didn't return to the project, instead replaced by lookalike Emily Mortimer. These two absences could've spelled doom for "Peru," but fortunately the film struck gold on its own, providing another wholesome, enjoyable film that the entire family can enjoy.

The Score: A+