The third Paddington movie's opening pair of scenes - the dramatic meeting of Paddington and Aunt Lucy plus a chaotic comedic encounter with a photobooth - reassure the viewer that with a different director all is well with the franchise, retaining its signature whimsy and gentle heart. When a letter arrives with news of 'something wrong' with Aunt Lucy, the increasingly separated Brown family decide to take Paddington on a family holiday to his homeland that leads to a mysterious quest through the jungle in order to find her. As ever, the film is carried by Ben Whishaw's familiar delightful reassuring voicework as Paddington, and here Olivia Colman as the Reverend Mother at The Home for Retired Bears is just about on the right side of deliciously demented, Hugh Bonneville is particularly funny in this episode, and Emily Mortimer is a satisfactory replacement as the family's mother. The change of location, a different colour palette and the adventure element gives the film a fresh look for the series, and the out-of-their-comfort-zone angle gives Paddington and the adults something new with which to work, although the Brown children are often given little to do other than loiter around for the most part. Overall Paddington in Peru is a charming, gentle, cuddly, breezy and entertaining caper which would make an ideal trilogy closer, otherwise it will be interesting to see where a fourth movie might take them all after this entry. Keep watching the London tourist montage at the end for a surprise appearance and again at the very end of the credits.
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