‘Paddington in Peru’ review: the impossibly cute bear in a charming sequel

This image released by Sony Pictures shows the character Paddington, voiced by Ben Whishaw, in a scene from "Paddington in Peru." (Sony Pictures via AP)

If the world worked the way it is supposed to, there would be a picture of Paddington the Bear next to the word ‘adorable’ in your dog-eared copy of Funk and Wagnalls.

Since 1958, when the marmalade loving, spectacled bear first appeared in print, he has been an avatar for mischievous fun, kindness and overall, unescapable lovability.

Eight years after two perfectly perfect instalments of the bear’s adventures with his adopted English family, comes “Paddington in Peru,” a new adventure that is sure to please family audiences, even if the ambitious story doesn’t have the magic of the first two films.

In the film, the marmalade loving bear, voiced by Ben Whishaw, searches for his cherished Aunt Lucy (Imelda Staunton), an elderly bear who has gone missing in the Peruvian jungle. Helping Paddington on his dangerous quest are Oscar winner Olivia Colman as a cheery singing nun, an enigmatic boat captain played by Antonio Banderas and his adopted parents Henry (Hugh Bonneville) and Mary Brown (Emily Mortimer, replacing Sally Hawkins).

The impossibly cute Paddington is still the kindhearted agent of mild chaos he’s always been, but this time around his adopted family play a larger role. Watson and Bonneville are up to the task, expertly riding the line between silly and sentimental, but the film itself feels less whimsical than its predecessors.

Having said that, Coleman, as the singing nun at The Home for Retired Bears, brings a big dollop of wacky fun in the “Sound of Music” inspired musical number “Let’s Prepare for Paddington.”

Paul King, director of the first two instalments, brought an eccentric charm to Paddington’s world that was undeniably wondrous. That world is still evident, but this time around new director Dougal Wilson opts for action and adventure, much of which is very compelling, and character driven, but it doesn’t lift off the screen the way the first two films did.

Nonetheless, “Paddington in Peru” is a thoroughly enjoyable family film, one with timely subtext about immigration (Paddington gets his British passport in the film’s early minutes), identity and loyalty, and, of course, is laced with the bear’s good-natured way of seeing the best in everyone, even those who done him wrong.

3.5 stars out of 5