Katie Byrne reviews the third instalment of the Paddington franchise and delves deep into the themes and details present that give an animated bear a life of his own.
From director Dougal Wilson comes the third instalment of the Paddington franchise. Paddington in Peru follows the titular and familiar Paddington (Ben Whishaw) and his adopted family, the Browns, as they embark on a family trip to Peru. This trip is not a holiday but an important mission in finding Aunt Lucy (Imelda Staunton), Paddington’s closest living relative, as she ends up lost in the depths of the Amazon rainforest.
In the early moments of the film, we are reminded of Paddington’s origins. A red tulip cleverly aligns with his younger head; strikingly similar to the red hat that the Paddington we know so well often adorns. We are also brought back to the colourful streets of Windsor Gardens where Paddington resides. He is now an official British citizen and as well as celebrating by drinking tea, he is also gifted with an umbrella from helpful characters from the previous films in a heartwarming scene.
The film’s change of setting from London to Peru was well justified and perhaps needed, but there were no solidifying moments that entailed that the film was Peruvian in essence. There was very little Peruvian representation in the South American setting, and even less people of colour than seen in London; a noticeable choice considering the emphasis on setting change. This aside, upon arrival to Peru, there is an immediate sinister and gripping atmosphere. Olivia Colman is enthralling as the Reverend Mother and she embodies a chillingly sinister yet overly friendly persona, alluding to a possible deferral from her supposed selfless motives of reuniting Paddington and Aunt Lucy. The arrival of Gina and Hunter Cabot (Carla Tous and Antonio Banderas) only adds to this sinister depiction.
Although a sometimes disturbing atmosphere, the film uses light hearted humour to deal with the various issues explored. We see Henry Brown (Hugh Bonneville) struggle with risk taking, a fear that is ironically associated with his job in insurance, and Mrs. Bird (Julie Walters) returns as a fan-favourite comic relief character who completes her own secret side quest in the Home for Retired Bears.
The theme of family is heavily present across the film and we witness three different families overcome their own personal challenges. Although the film features a diverse range of families, the film emphasises the message that family will always be there for you whenever you need them. In particular, we see Mrs. Brown (Emily Mortimer) struggle with the exponential speed at which her children are growing up and moving on. Much like teenagers in real life, her children seem to refrain from speaking too much, in a puzzling decrease in the dialogue assigned to both Judy (Madeline Harris) and Jonathan Brown (Samuel Joslin). Their lack of lines is reasonably noticeable and sadly diminishes their role and importance that they once occupied in the previous films.
On the other hand, the success of the film’s production and attention to detail is something to be commended. The camera angles and soundtrack fit the genre of the film and add to the comedic and adventurous form of the narrative. In an early scene, a bear at the Home for Retired Bears is reading a newspaper that contains the headline: “Grizzly Bear of Wall Street”. This is a small detail that showcases Wilson’s exceptional attention to production and background details.
There is a myriad of foreshadowing which aid in the development of the film. Jonathan’s craftsmanship is used both physically and metaphorically to help stitch familial ties back together while Gina and Hunter’s skills on a boat prove useful in the final fight against evil. The film’s overall production and multitude of easter eggs interwoven within the plot is one of its greatest achievements.
Paddington in Peru is a fun filled, family-friendly film that speaks to a wide range of viewers. It has the ability to resonate with parents while also creating a storyline that most children will leave the cinema wishing into reality. In one of the busiest cities in the world, there is no denying that everyone fits in. Even if that someone is a bear in a blue coat, red hat, who goes by the name Paddington and is rarely without a backup marmalade sandwich on his bear-son. Just in case!