Paddington in Peru
When you’re meant to be watching The Outrun at a charming Curzon and a new musical about Mozart’s sister, but you get trainageddon part deux..what better way to deal with life’s lemons than make marmalade and enjoy a slice of optimism with Paddington?
Remembering that this is a children’s story for children (not just adults or merch sellers), Paddington is gently paced and suspenseful, but not terrifying. Nor do people shout all the time or talk too fast or interweave a hundred complicated twisty plots. There are reveals, but it’s not too much. Whilst it may not have the pizazz of Paddington 2, it’s still pretty inventive. There are even film jokes —such as a Sound of Music moment.
This time Paddington and the Browns go on a quest…in search of Aunt Lucy. They join forces with Antonio Banderas’s Hunter Cabot who is haunted by the ghosts of greedy family members who keep urging him to join the dark/golden side. Very Kind Hearts and Coronets. He thinks Paddington knows the way…to Eldorado. Maybe Aunt Lucy does too.
Then there’s the Home for Retired Bears with a whole host of singing, dancing, discoing nuns led by Mother Superior Olivia Colman. And aged bingo playing bears (with a bible twist — 4 horsemen of the apocalypse anyone?!!)
Weaving in lots of humour, there are reveals and some unexpected moments (flying nun?!!) Mrs Bird (Julie Walters) turns detective — with a different kind of to-do list. Look at the backdrops too — there’s a photo of Paddington with the Queen, which brings a tear to the eye. Lovely voice work by Ben Whishaw. Emily Mortimer takes over the role of Mrs Brown from Sally Hawkins, but it doesn’t alter the dynamics.
With strong performances, good storytelling and fun, this is a charming family (and life lemons defeating) film. It also plays into the dream that we all have — that our neighbours are Jessica Hynes and national treasure Sanjeev Bhaskar, and that we can visit Jim Broadbent for tea. That we live in a world where refugees are welcomed and valued, citizenship is bestowed as a gift, families and communities are valued, that we care for others, there’s much less racism, litter and nastiness, and we can embrace a healthy bit of risk. We can even learn to love purple kneed spiders. Do we want Hayley Atwell as our boss though?
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