Despite getting rave reviews and making big money at the box office, there’s a part of me that believes the Paddington films are remain surprisingly underrated. There never seems to be the same enthusiasm surrounding them as there is with so many other stock quality family movies. And they’ve been completely overlooked by most major awards shows including the Oscars, Golden Globes, and Critics Choice.

But for my money the two previous Paddington movies sit among the very best family features ever made. So it goes without saying that “Paddington in Peru” immediately found its place on my ‘Most Anticipated’ list for 2025 movies. Based on the popular series of children’s books by the late Thomas Michael Bond, the Paddington films follow the adventures of Paddington, a warmhearted Peruvian bear who finds a loving home in London with the kindly Brown family.

Dougal Wilson takes the directing reins from Paul King and tells a new story – one that may not have the laughs of previous Paddington films but that has the same big heart. Despite living in the same London flat, the Browns don’t spend much time together. Judy (Madeleine Harris) is getting ready to head off to college. Jonathan (Samuel Joslin) spends all of his time in his room playing video games and tinkering with his inventions. Henry (Hugh Bonneville) is swamped with work at his insurance firm. And Mary (Emily Mortimer) is left to her painting while lamenting how times have changed.

The one constant in the Brown family is the lovable Paddington (wonderfully voiced by a returning Ben Whishaw) with his red floppy hat, blue duffle coat, and heart of gold. Paddington still loves his life in London, but he also enjoys his letters from his beloved Aunt Lucy (voiced by Imelda Staunton). She lives in a retirement home for bears back in Peru.

But one day Paddington receives a concerning letter from the retirement home’s Reverend Mother (Olivia Colman). She tells him that Aunt Lucy deeply misses him and has been acting noticeably strange lately. A worried Paddington is determined to pay her a visit. Meanwhile Mary sees the trip as an opportunity for their family to spend some much needed time together.

So the Browns pack up and set off for Peru. But upon arrival they’re met with some bad news. The Reverend Mother informs them that Aunt Lucy has gone missing. While searching for clues in her cabin, Paddington discovers an old map to a mysterious place called Rumi Rock. So the Browns hire out a boat captained by treasure hunters Hunter Cabot (Antonio Banderas) and his daughter Gina (Carla Tous) to take them deep into Peruvian Amazon to find Rumi Rock and hopefully Aunt Lucy.

From the opening title card, there’s something comforting about being back in this world. The characters, the tone, the style, the aesthetic, the gorgeous digital effects, the extra storybook animations – it’s all like a warm hug from someone (or on this case something) you‘ve missed. Wilson knows what fans expect from a Paddington movie and for the most part he delivers.

That said, “Paddington in Peru” doesn’t quite reach the heights of the previous movies. Most notably, it’s not as funny. It certainly packs some laughs and just the very notion of it all is amusing in itself. Yet it’s hardly a steady diet of humor. Also, by the third act Paddington’s adventure begins to run out of steam. And there are times when the movie leans a little too much on big action sequences and not on what makes the characters and their journey special.

But to Wilson’s credit, even when his film wanders he still manages to guide it back, punctuating the story with a tender and heartfelt ending that hits just the right note. And as the credits roll we’re reminded of why we adore this marmalade loving bear and his endearing human family. Even more, it leaves us with the hope that there are more big screen Paddington stories set to be told. I know I’ll be there for them.

VERDICT – 4 STARS