PADDINGTON IN PERU movie poster | ©2025 Sony/Columbia Pictures

Rating: PG
Stars: Ben Whishaw (voice), Hugh Bonneville, Emily Mortimer, Julie Walters, Olivia Colman, Antonio Banderas, Madeleine Harris, Samuel Joslin, Carla Tous, Imelda Staunton (voice), Jim Broadbent
Writers: Mark Burton and Jon Foster & James Lamont, story by Paul King and Simon Farnaby and Mark Burton, based on PADDINGTON BEAR created by Michael Bond
Director: Dougal Wilson
Distributor: Sony/Columbia
Release Date: February 14, 2025

Michael Bond’s creation Paddington, an exceedingly polite (and talking) bear cub living in London, first appeared in 1958. Since then, Paddington has appeared in many places and mediums.

Most recently, realized in CGI among a live-action cast, Paddington, as voiced by Ben Whishaw, has starred in 2014’s PADDINGTON and 2017’s PADDINGTON 2.

Now the bear is back in PADDINGTON IN PERU. Most of the original cast also reappears, including the Brown family of London, who have essentially adopted Paddington. Returning are Hugh Bonneville as dad Henry, Madeleine Harris as now-teen journalist daughter Judy, Samuel Joslin as now-teen inventor son Jonathan, and Julie Walters as grandma Mrs. Bird. Only Emily Mortimer is new to the Brown clan, replacing Sally Hawkins as matriarch Mary.

As we know from the first two films, Paddington is originally from Peru, where he was raised by his (also bear) Aunt Lucy (voiced by Imelda Staunton) and late Uncle Pastuzo. Aunt Lucy still lives in Peru at the local Home for Retired Bears.

But when Paddington gets a worried letter from the facility’s Mother Superior (Olivia Colman), saying that Aunt Lucy is missing, he immediately sets off in search, with the Browns in tow.

Their journey brings them to Captain Hunter Cabot (Antonio Banderas) and his teen daughter Gina (Carla Tous), who together operate a small tourist boat on the Amazon. Hunter has a complicated family history.

Like its predecessors, PADDINGTON IN PERU is amiable, agreeable, and usually amusing. Director Dougal Wilson, taking over from the previous two films’ helmer Paul King – who contributed to the story here with Simon Farnaby and Mark Burton, for the screenplay by Burton and Jon Foster & James Lamont – does a great job of making us believe that the CGI Paddington is really interacting with his live-action costars.

The filmmakers maintain a friendly, warm tone that still allows for zaniness. The PADDINGTON films are a mixture of slapstick and heartwarming affirmation, and so it is here. The emotions are big but stop just this side of annoying. It helps that there’s a courteous, conscientious small bear at the center of it all.

Colman, so often cast in grimly serious roles, taps into her inner panto star as Mother Superior with what looks like huge glee. Banderas likewise seems to be having great fun in playing all the river captain’s emotions in bold colors.

Whishaw, as always, is pitch-perfect as Paddington. Bonneville, Mortimer, Walters, Harris, and Joslin are all dependably on-target as the caring Brown family.

Parts of the movie were actually filmed in Peru, which allows for some breathtaking vistas along with the comedy.

PADDINGTON IN PERU is winsome and modestly charming. The entire family is likely to enjoy the movie. Fans of PADDINGTON 2 are advised to stick around all the way through the end credits.

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