‘Paddington In Peru’

Paddington in Peru, the third film in the popular series starring the marmalade-loving bear, has received an overwhelmingly positive reaction from critics and audiences, with healthy box office returns to boot. It’s cracking fun; however, the story feels more like an Indiana Jones movie that happens to star a small bear, rather than a story that could only happen to Paddington.

British author Michael Bond created the character in the 1950s, inspired by the WWII refugees seeking safety in England. Since then,  the British public has so embraced Paddignton that today they identify him as an indelible symbol of British culture. He even visited the late Queen for her Platinum Jubilee (the film briefly shows a photo of their meeting in Paddington’s bedroom). It’s easy to forget that he’s an immigrant.

At the start of the film, Paddington receives his UK citizenship and passport which, ironically, allows him to travel back to his homeland in “darkest Peru.” He and his adoptive human family, the Browns, fly off to see Paddington’s Aunt Lucy at the Home for Retired Bears; however, by the time they arrive, Lucy has gone missing and the clues point them toward a mysterious place called El Dorado.

In their search for Lucy, the family encounters a suspiciously cheery nun (Olivia Colman) and a dashing riverboat captain (Antonio Banderas), whose ancestors have sought the treasure of El Dorado for centuries. Both Colman and Banderas know exactly what they’re here for and deliver delightfully hammy performances. Film lovers will spot numerous nods to classic cinema, from the Sound of Music to Treasure of Sierra Madre to Buster Keaton.

Among the human characters, Mr. Brown (Hugh Bonneville) has the most notable story arc as he fights against his better judgement to “embrace the risk” in a bid to impress his new boss. Mrs. Brown (Emily Mortimer) and the children have very little to do except come along for the ride. The real draw is, of course, Paddington himself, once again charmingly voiced by Ben Whishaw and rendered with superb CGI animation. And Paddington is undeniably there, in Peru, even when the treasure hunt storyline takes over.

Paddington’s adventures in London are basically fish-out-of-water stories. Hijinks ensue from innocent misunderstandings or Paddington’s desire to put right something he believes to be unfair, while those around him politely attempt to restore order.

This South American adventure inverts the narrative, but Paddington and the Browns all seem equally out of place navigating river rapids or cavorting around Machupicchu. They don’t encounter much Peruvian culture or even Bear culture for there to be any clash.

They have already announced a fourth Paddington movie and a new TV series . Here’s hoping those projects don’t send Paddington on even more far-flung adventures — Paddington at the Pyramids! Paddington Down Under! Paddington Hawaiian-Style! Paddington stories should be as cozily “British” as tea and tikka masala. And surely there are more adventures to be had closer to his chosen home.