Who’s ready for a fresh blast of weapons-grade charm? Paddington is back, and since its release in 2017, his last outing Paddington 2 has been widely hailed as one of the greatest films ever made. No pressure, then, for follow-up Paddington In Peru – an all-new adventure that takes everyone’s favourite bear back to his place of birth, with the entire Brown family in tow. All your favourites are back – but there are a few changes here. Notably, first-time feature director Dougal Wilson is bravely stepping in behind the camera, in lieu of Paul King (still a producer here, along with his regular collaborator Simon Farnaby); plus, Sally Hawkins is no longer playing Mrs. Brown having evolved into Wonka’s mum instead (see: Wonka), with Emily Mortimer now in that role. Check out the trailer here:
Let’s be honest: the lack of Paul King directing was always a bit of a worry going into this third Paddington outing. But from this trailer, you’d never know – Wilson seems to have stepped into the cosy and charming world with ease. As such, we have several Paddington staples – some cheeky slapstick escapades (Paddington gets a passport photo is a perfect idea for this kind of thing); a beloved Brit actor in a hilarious get-up, who just mind end up the villain (we have our eye on you, Olivia Colman’s cheery Peru-based nun); and a plot hinging on the emotional bond between Paddington and his beloved Aunt Lucy. Because, while Paddington and the entire Brown family (god, those kids are growing up, aren’t they) are on holiday this time, Aunt Lucy has gone walkabouts. Cue a jungle jaunt to find where she’s gotten to.
The result looks to have a little bit of Indiana Jones adventure, a particularly Puss In Boots-ian turn from Antonio Banderas, and all the wonderful homegrown whimsy that audiences have come to expect. Here’s the synopsis: “Paddington In Peru brings Paddington's story to Peru as he returns to visit his beloved Aunt Lucy, who now resides at the Home for Retired Bears. With the Brown Family in tow, a thrilling adventure ensues when a mystery plunges them into an unexpected journey through the Amazon rainforest and up to the mountain peaks of Peru.”
The signs all point, then, to another lovely Paddington outing – chances it’ll become the new greatest movie of all time might be slim, but fingers crossed it continues the legacy that King created. No hard stares required. We’ll see where Aunt Lucy has ended up when Paddington In Peru hits UK cinemas on 8 November.