Paddington in Peru

Rated PG • Theaters

Paddington Bear, who’s sometimes called “Mr. Brown” by his friends, is one of Britain’s most charming exports, and his fans won’t be disappointed with Paddington in Peru, the latest live-action film featuring the marmalade-loving bear in the blue coat and red bucket hat.

Things have changed for the Brown family at 32 Windsor Gardens since Paddington 2 (2017). Henry Brown (Hugh Bonneville), the family’s patriarch, is struggling with changes at work that leave him feeling obsolete. The kids are growing up, and each in their own way is worrying the parents. Judy (Madeleine Harris) is about to leave for university, while brilliant Jonathan (Samuel Joslin) is failing to launch. Mother Mary Brown (who’s had her own transformation with Emily Mortimer taking over the role from Sally Hawkins) is pining after the days when the family spent more time together. When Paddington (voiced by Ben Whishaw) receives a letter from the Home for Retired Bears saying Aunt Lucy (voiced by Imelda Staunton) is in trouble, Mary organizes a trip for the whole family to head to Peru, thinking they could use some togetherness.

Upon arriving in Peru, the Browns learn Aunt Lucy has gone missing in the jungle, so Paddington and the rest of the family set off to find her. They’re aided in their adventure by a singing nun (Olivia Colman), who insists she’s not suspicious, and a riverboat captain (Antonio Banderas), who’s haunted by a desire to find El Dorado, the lost city of gold.

Paul King wrote and directed the first two Paddington movies, both of which were delightful, but the filmmaker decided to step away from the franchise to create the whimsical Wonka (2023). King had a hand in the story for Paddington in Peru, but Dougal Wilson takes over directing responsibilities for his first feature film.

This third installment is good, though perhaps not quite as good as the first two. The story feels a little too familiar because this jungle-adventure movie doesn’t explore many new ideas, instead sticking to the well-worn plot points established by earlier films in the genre. Paddington’s quest bears a striking resemblance to Dora and the Lost City of Gold (2019), which is another worthwhile family movie. The ending of Paddington in Peru, however, offers a satisfying little twist on the old treasure-­hunting formula.

Despite its somewhat derivative narrative, the film provides plenty of feel-good entertainment. The humor is rooted in its particular Britishness: You might be able to take the bear out of London, but you can’t take London out of the bear.

The slapstick comedy has an understated quality, and the film is almost completely devoid of the rude scatological gags that have become the backbone of kids movies in America. Paddington amuses us because he’s a bear at odds with himself. He’s always making a muddle of things, but he desperately wants to preserve decorum. Those who fail to remember their manners might be subjected to a hard stare.

But relationships are at the heart of Paddington’s story. In this movie, the Brown family doesn’t spend much time at 32 Windsor Gardens, but the franchise keeps its emphasis on the importance of home and family.

Circumstances change and kids grow up, but the lessons we learn from a small brown bear remain the same.