We perhaps weren’t ready to watch an animated bear navigate the world of British bureaucracy in a post-Brexit UK and secure himself a swanky new black British passport, but the world of cinema is currently full of surprises.
The third film in the trilogy, Paddington in Peru deals with the beloved bear’s journey back to Peru to visit his Aunt Lucy who had been staying in a home for retired bears. Paddington had been living happily with the Browns in London when he received a letter from the home, sent directly to his classy, gentrified Kensington address. Within it, he was informed that Aunt Lucy wasn’t behaving normally, continuously discussing how much she missed Paddington and staying up late to plan a journey.
Aunt Lucy wasn’t behaving normally, continuously discussing how much she missed Paddington
Fuelled by guilt for Aunt Lucy’s welfare, the allure of a South American adventure and the global power of a British passport, the Browns set off.
The scene was conveniently set up as we were informed that the Browns had been drifting apart recently, shown through flashbacks to the kids’ younger lives. It made for a convincing opportunity for the family to re-form these bonds.
I had concerns for the third instalment in the trilogy, given that Sally Hawkins wasn’t going to be making an appearance as Mrs Brown after elusively saying “it was time” to pass the role to Emily Mortimer. Mortimer fit in nicely with the Browns but, along with a hefty number of other fans, I was missing Hawkins’s twee, middle-class British vibe.
From this point onwards, the film centres on the adventures into the Amazon, Paddington’s true discovery of himself and his own strength along with Mr Brown (Hugh Boneville) being haunted by purple kneed tarantulas. Accompanied by double crossing, triple crossing Peruvian tour guides who are on the hunt for gold, Paddington gets himself into some serious mischief.
Olivia Coleman deserves a special mention for her acting in Paddington in Peru. She is a nun at the home for retired bears and her convincing acting and peculiar quirks add to the plot of an already action-packed film. Another character with a slippery identity, she does well to keep us hooked as to what her motives truly are.
Olivia Coleman deserves a special mention for her acting in Paddington in Peru
Paddington’s journey back to his homeland triggers some (often uncomfortable) memories from when he was a mere animated cub and brings about the question of place. What has a bigger effect on who we are: the land from which we herald or the place we make our home? It’s a complex concept that gets the cogs in our heads working, even as adults. Paddington makes some crazy discoveries about the ‘gold’ that everyone is so desperately searching for – the parallel plot of the film. I would definitely say the ending is wholesome and fitting.
Paddington is presented with a choice that we as university students can often relate to. Give up everything you know for a life you choose to make, or stay with the comfort of the family you’re born into.
Never in my life have I been more jealous of a bear with dual citizenship. Paddington in Peru has more twists, action and heartwarming scenes than you can shake a marmalade sandwich at and Paddington’s grand decision at the very end of the film was enough to have a grown woman crying.
(No-one needs to know I was crying from ten minutes in.)
Family, both by chance and choice, and place are the overriding themes of this film and I loved it. We are all bits-of-this and bits-of-that, the complex sum of everything and everyone we know, and Paddington in Peru does well to make the idea accessible for viewers of all ages and backgrounds.
Marmalade sandwiches and fancy brollies at the ready – you don’t want to miss it.
