Paddington returns to Peru to visit his beloved Aunt Lucy, who is currently living in the Home for Retired Bears. An exciting adventure begins with the Brown family when a mystery plunges them into an unexpected journey. The director of the previous two films, Paul King, decided not to direct this installment. He did, however, pitch the idea for a third film and was attached as an executive producer on The Graham Norton Show: Billy Crystal/Emily Mortimer/Hugh Bonneville/Pharrell Williams/Michael Kiwanuka (2024). “Paddington in Peru (2024)” isn’t as good as “Paddington 2 (2017),” but it’s not as big a step down as some early reactions suggested. For the most part, it’s still a fun and charmingly polite experience that’s as enjoyable as it is energetic. While the more standard adventure narrative is less specific than the vignette approach of the first two pictures, it still works well enough in this context and allows its likeable characters to continue to charm even when subjected to the classic sequel of taking a trip outside their natural habitat to learn the as-yet-unknown origins of the main character. There are plenty of funny moments throughout and the film keeps you on your toes from the very first frame. It’s a really fun film and sometimes that’s all it needs. Compared to its predecessors, it lacks a strong emotional core. While there are a few moving moments, the piece isn’t particularly moving and won’t get your tear ducts working. Plus, some of its character elements are rather superficial and, as my brother pointed out, feel almost like an afterthought. The narrative in general is fairly conventional and follows a fairly set formula. It’s fairly predictable and feels relatively generic, almost as if it was retrofitted for Paddington after his basic beats had already been laid out. Despite a few issues, there’s still more than enough to like about this feature. The charming cast is as strong as ever, with a couple of charming newcomers (Antonio Banderas and Olivia Coleman) happily chewing the scenery whenever needed. The special effects are consistently good, and they bring the titular bear to life in such a way that it’s strange to think that he’s never actually in the same space as the other characters. When he’s not on the red carpet, of course, it feels like someone’s missing. The film is light and bouncy; it really does fly and is generally a lot of fun. It’s full of cheesy gags, both visual and dialogue-based, and scenes of slapstick action that will knock your socks off. It’s a really enjoyable time. Ultimately, it’s a thoroughly respectable addition to the series that’s well-executed and enjoyable throughout. It’s a shame that it comes after “Paddington 2 (2017)”, because you could make an argument that it’s the best – or at least most universally relatable – film of all time, because it really is a great family film. If you're expecting (again) the greatest film of all time, or even the second greatest film of all time, you're bound to be disappointed. However, this is a rock-solid effort that is captivating and funny in almost every scene. It's a lot better than a lot of similar fare. If you're not expecting a miracle, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.