Paddington in Peru (2025) – Review

Quick Thoughts – Grade – B+ – Paddington in Peru is a charming adventure film that features hilarious performances from Antonio Banderas and Olivia Colman

You gotta hand it to first-time feature film director Dougal Wilson for agreeing to take over the directorial duties of one of the most beloved franchises of recent memory. Taking over the franchise from Paul King (who directed the blockbuster Wonka instead of returning for the third film) is a big ask, but after decades of directing music videos, commercials, and short films, first-time feature director Dougal Wilson does a fine job of carrying on the Paddington franchise’s tradition of success. With a story from Paul King and Simon Farnaby (who wrote the first two Paddington films), and a screenplay written by Mark Burton (Wallace & Gromit films), Jon Foster (The Adventures of Paddington), and James Lamont (The Adventures of Paddington), Wilson had enough great material to craft a successful sequel that has already grossed over $100 million worldwide. It also helps that Erik Wlsion (cinematography), Rosie Alison (producer), Pablo Grillo (director of animation) worked on the project because Wilson could rely on Paddington-pros who worked on the prior films during the production.

The main difference between Paddington in Peru and the other two films is the latest installment is an adventure yarn that sees Paddington and the Brown family tackling the Peruvian jungle in an attempt to rescue Paddington’s beloved Aunt Lucy, who disappeared when she presumably left her cabin to find the mythical El Dorado. The treasure hunt plotline is a good call, because after two successful films involving England-based shenanigans, relocating the stuffy Brown family to a dangerous jungle takes them out of their comfort zones and into the crosshairs of wonderful characters played by Antonio Banderas and Olivia Colman. 

The film kicks off with Paddington getting into his usual exploits (destroying things) inside a photo booth that takes a series of blurry and smooshed photos for his British passport. After years of living in England he’s become an umbrella-toting citizen who lives in the attic of the cavernous home owned by the Brown family. Things are good for Paddington until he receives an alarming letter from the Reverend Mother (Olivia Colman) of the home for retired bears in Peru. The cheerfully written and slightly ominous letter (perfectly narrated by Colman) informs Paddington that his beloved Aunt Lucy misses him dearly and would love for him to visit. The timing is good because the safety-obsessed Henry Brown (Hugh Bonneville) just started a new job that requires him to take more risks, and Mary Brown (Emiliy Mortimer – who does a fine job taking over the role from Sally Hawkins) is dreading an eventual empty nest as Judy (Madeleine Harris) and Jonathan (Samuel Joslin) are in their teenage years and close to leaving for college. 

Shortly after they arrive in Peru, the family meet the Reverend Mother, and after a delightful musical number involving floating guitars, deep breathes, and an elderly bear being hit in the stomach with a dusting sick, Paddington and the Browns learn that Aunt Lucy has disappeared and the only clue to her is whereabouts is a map to a location deep in the Amazon forest. The newly adventurous Browns hire a boat captain named Hunter Cabot (Antonio Banderas) and his daughter Gina (Carla Tous) to take them on the trek down river. Since it’s a Paddinton film, things go horribly awry as it turns out that Captain Cabot belongs to a cursed family of treasure hunters who all perished (and haunt Hunter) in their quest to find gold. This leads to a series of events that split up the Browns deep in a jungle loaded with dangerous rapids, spiky plants, and gold hungry captains. 

Paddington in Peru hits on all cylinders when Antonion Banderas and Olivia Colman go for broke and fully embrace the insanity of the Paddinton world.  Like Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant before them, Banderas and Colman have lots of fun as they either attempt to help or hurt the Brown family. The funniest moments of the movie features Colman and Julie Waters arguing about hidden lairs and flying together in an old airplane that needs a miracle to stay in the air. Toss in Buster Keaton inspired gags and bits inspired by Raiders of the Lost of the Ark, Aguirre, Wrath of God and Fitzcarraldo, and Paddington in Peru is a welcome delight for kids and cinephiles. Also, things don’t get much better than watching Antonio Banderas turn things up to 11 as he argues with ghosts and chases Paddington around Peruvian mountains.

Final Thoughts – Paddington in Peru doesn’t reach the comedic or heartfelt heights of its two predecessors, but that’s a hard task considering they are two of the most beloved films of recent memory. However, it’s a delightful movie that does nothing but help the legacy of this popular franchise.