Paul King knew the deal. Having embraced audiences with two beautiful warm hugs, he decided to move onto chocolate factories. Which feels more than reasonable given the reception to the second film in particular. When other films reference its quality, how are you going to top that?
So, seven years later, we finally have a third Paddington film. It’s still a nice hug, though unsurprisingly it perhaps isn’t quite as snuggly.
I completely get the choices the story makes. Mixing things up by taking Paddington out of London and into the world. And Peru is stunning. But for me, and I’d wager most of you, what we love about Paddington is him getting into scrapes in familiar settings. A sort of London that time forgot, yet still full of multiculturalism and openness and wonder.
It’s unlikely you’re walking away from a film that includes Olivia Cole as a guitar playing nun, or Antonio Banderas as a handsome boat captain, without enjoying yourself. But the slapstick is a bit lacking, as is the amount of interaction Paddington gets with other humans outside of the Browns. I want to see his well-meaning and polite demeanour rub off on more people!
Alas, Paddington in Peru is more than acceptable family entertainment. I’m sure there will be more, and I’m confident they’ll be similarly decent. But it’s most likely that this series has peaked.
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