Paddington in Peru (Christian Movie Review)
The setting may have changed, but Paddington in Peru is a charming tale that offers more of the same light-hearted and wholesome entertainment that the whole family can enjoy.
About the Film
Paddington, with his adorable red hat and blue coat, has been charming audiences for decades. First introduced with the beloved books by Michael Bond in 1958, the character made his big screen debut in 2015. While sometimes lost in the shuffle of the more flashy or zany children’s movies, both Paddington and Paddington 2 (2017) were fantastic family films, and are among the highest critically rated films on Rotten Tomatoes (94% and 99%). Now, for his third big screen adventure, Paddington is leaving domestic life in London behind to go on a danger-filled journey into Peru. The setting may have changed, but Paddington in Peru is a charming tale that offers more of the same light-hearted and wholesome entertainment that the whole family can enjoy.
Since the events of the last film, the Brown family has grown apart. They still love each other, but they’ve slowly settled into a rut of living individual lives under a shared roof. When Paddington decides to visit his aunt Lucy in Peru, the trip appears to be the perfect opportunity for the family to break out of their stagnant routines and spend some quality time together. But things don’t go precisely as planned, leading to a series of dangerous adventures as they find themselves surrounded by (seemingly) supernatural forces while searching for the legendary lost city of El Dorado. It’s all quite silly, and even in a family film about a talking bear, the heightened stakes of the adventure pushes the story to the limits. What keeps Paddington in Peru from drifting too far from its established roots, however, is that its endearing characters never get lost amid the increased spectacle and action. It is a story fundamentally about family, with the adventure merely serving as a catalyst to develop those relational dynamics.
Despite the drastically different narrative backdrop, the film maintains the same agreeable tone as its predecessors. Once again, Paddington in Peru is similar to something like Winne the Pooh, not just because both are about charming bears with a taste for sweet and sticky food, but because both have a refreshingly gentle demeanor. While many recent family films have gone the way of the Minions, bursting with unrelentingly loud and hyper gags, there is a calming and almost soothing aura about the Paddington movies. The characters speak with level voices, and the story—while still offering some moments of perilous action—never feels rushed.
For all its wholesome elements, Paddington in Peru does have a few content elements for Christian audiences to be aware of. Unlike previous films, there is an element of supernaturalism throughout, even if not all is as it initially seems. One character is “cursed” and haunted by ghosts of his ancestors (who frequently appear on screen to taunt him); there is talk about “spirits of the forest,” and Paddington has dreams of a sort of totem trinket or statue. Without spoiling the story, most (perhaps all) of these mystical elements are ultimately revealed to have natural, demystified explanations, and I did not personally find the elements problematic. Similarly, there is also a potential concern in the way the film utilizes religious characters (see content section below).
The main event of a Paddington movie is, of course, Paddington himself. But there are plenty of other elements to enjoy as well. The animation is as delightful as the characters, with several creative and inventive scene transitions and flourishes that bring a sense of joy and playfulness to the story. Antonio Banderas also joins the cast as a mysterious—and slightly crazy—boat captain hired to transport the Brown family. He is clearly having a blast in the role and infuses the story with magnetic energy, although at times his dominating presence threatens to overly distract from Paddington and the Brown family.
In the end, Paddington in Peru proves once again that a story does not need to be obnoxious or crude in order to entertain young viewers (or their parents). The third film may be a step down from the quality of the first two films, but only marginally so. I think Paddington is at his best when set in idyllic domestic London life but sending him off on a wild adventure provides an opportunity to explore a fun new side of the loveable bear. Paddington in Peru is not groundbreaking, but like the bear himself, it is trustworthy and dependable, with an unwaveringly warm and uplifting presence that kids will enjoy and their parents will appreciate.
For Consideration
On the Surface—(Profanity, Sexual content, violence, etc.).
Language: Several religious exclamations of “thank God” or “What in God’s name.”
Violence: During a series of flashbacks, it is revealed how several of a character’s ancestors died in search of El Dorado, including one drowning in quicksand, one accidently blowing himself up with dynamite, and another being attacked by a tiger. The deaths are depcited humorosuly and not in a graphic manner. After being shipwrecked in the jungle, a character muses, “How long until we eat each other….”
Sexuality: There is a repeated joke about how Mrs. Brown finds the boat captain handsome. When an anteater licks Mr. Brown’s face, he mistakes it for his wife, saying, “ Mary, not with the kids around.”
Other: A Home for Retired Bears is run by a group of nuns. There is plenty of religious language and imagery, including quotes from scripture and quotes such as, “All it takes to light the darkness is one candle of faith.” At the same time,(SPOILERS) in a similar way as Wonka and Minions, the nun is eventually revealed to be a phony using the nun persona to locate the treasure. The film draws a clear line that she is a poor representative of the faith. One character criticizes her saying, “This is a bit unchristian,” to which she responds, “That would be true if I was really a nun.” The twist is played for humor, and religion is otherwise portrayed in a positive light, but some Christian viewers may not appreciate the “corrupt nun” trope.
Engage The Film
Finding Yourself and Your Treasure
In a sense, the central theme in Paddington in Peru is an exploration of the teaching of Jesus, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). The unifying thread throughout the story is how the various characters try to “find themselves” and determine where their true treasure resides. The adventure to Peru becomes a sort of metaphor with the search for “El Dorado” representing peace and assurance in their identity rather than just a lost city of gold.
Ultimately, “family” is shown to be the greatest treasure. Hunter (the boat captain), is forced to choose between his lust for gold and his love for his daughter. For Paddington, the search is to reconcile his past with his present identity. Reflecting the experiences of people who have been adopted or have immigrated, he learns to honor his background and roots even as he finds his purpose as part of his adoptive family. He notes that Peru is where he is from, but the Brown family is where he belongs. For the Brown family, the struggle is not to find family, but to not lose sight of those important bonds. As the children have become teenagers, the family dynamic has changed. They learn to appreciate the memories while also embracing a new reality together.
On a surface level, parents can use the film to talk with their children about recognizing the things in life that matter the most—family and faith—and cherishing those things more than temporary pleasures or material objects.
