Since the film is now available to purchase digitally, the following review contains spoilers for Paddington in Peru.
Paddington in Peru isn’t the cinematic masterpiece the first two original films were, but it’s still an undeniable delight and proof that we should have at least ten of these films to follow our beloved bear through each of his endeavors. The adventure skyrockets with the third installment, but as a result, it loses a smidge of its cozy appeal the first two films are brimming with. Still, it’s a thrill ride—fun for the whole family and emotional in a way only these films can be.
Guest stars in the Paddington films are a huge part of the appeal, but it’s almost a little predictable at this point when known faces tend to be the bad guys. Are we ever going to be able to trust them because, at some point, I want to be shocked by who the story’s villain is. However, yes, I will still cheer over Olivia Colman taking off her nun’s veil to reveal her gorgeous hair. But at the end of the day, it’s unfortunately anticlimactic.
Where Paddington in Peru shines is in its usual charm to maintain a heart that outpours goodness. The world was a dark place in 2018 when Paddington 2 was released, but it wasn’t as horrible as it is now in 2025. We need goodness more than ever these days, and we need people who choose family over riches. We need kindness on our screens to remember that the darkness isn’t supposed to last.
Though the adventures outshine the quiet moments a bit, we still get the delightful wonder of magic that’s present with the Brown family allowing Paddington to guide their paths. The little bear is the greatest gift in their lives, and with so many changes coming from the time that’s passed, he continues to sprinkle that uniquely comforting magic into their lives. That said, the reveal of who Paddington is and exactly where he comes from is one of the moments that feels deeply earned in a third film.
The last twenty-ish minutes of the film feel like home. It’s what watching Paddington movies often feels like, topped with marmalade, hijinks, and a wholesome, sweet sequence that’s both gorgeously shot and written. It’s where the waterworks begin, and it’s where you wonder what the rest of the story will look like because if it was meant to be an ending, it’d hit hard. Emily Mortimer is an especially standout performer during the final few moments, reflecting the audience’s emotions with a sincerity that crushed me, followed by a joy that healed me.
These films are about family, hope, and how unexpected discoveries can be what people are missing. Paddington is a part of the Brown family, and there’s nothing lovelier than how it comes to life in Paddington in Peru. In a sense, the idea of what it means to be mixed is where the deeper message of the film lies. Where we come from matters, and where we choose to stay matters as well. Who we love and what we do—it’s all a part of our existence—whether human or bear. And the film’s decision to remind us of this when a certain group of people aren’t welcoming of anyone who looks different feels like the balm we need.
First Featured Image Credit: ©Studio Canal/Sony Pictures