Paddington in Peru, the third installment in the beloved Paddington series, takes our favorite endearing bear and the Brown family on a new adventure—this time, from the familiar streets of London to the vibrant landscapes of Peru. But can Paddington in Peru recapture the blissful magic of its predecessors, especially with changes to the director and a few central characters?

The story begins when Paddington (voiced once again with gentle, quizzical sincerity by Ben Whishaw) receives a letter from a nun who runs the Home for Retired Bears, where his Aunt Lucy is spending her twilight years. The nun informs him that Lucy has been acting strangely because she misses him. Meanwhile, the Brown family is growing apart, and a trip to South America seems like the perfect opportunity for some quality time before Judy heads off to university. However, upon arriving in Peru, Paddington discovers that his aunt has mysteriously disappeared. Determined to find her, he embarks on a journey down the Amazon.

The Browns’ jungle expedition—filled with waterfalls, piranhas, double-crosses, and Inca riddles—delivers a well-crafted, vibrant adventure with just the right amount of quirky fun, animated interludes, and musical numbers that define the Paddington series. The film’s climax is clever and satisfying, and Antonio Banderas shines as a morally conflicted villain. Compared to most children's films, Paddington in Peru remains a superior offering.

However, it doesn’t quite match the magic of Paddington 2. While all the familiar ingredients are present, the action is more cartoonishly exaggerated, with little real danger, and the mystery plot feels forced, weighed down by overly complicated backstories. Though the gags and set pieces are entertaining, they elicit only a few genuine laughs. The screenplay touches on themes of family and what Mr. Gruber calls the "mixed feelings" of being an immigrant, but neither receives the same passionate treatment as Paddington 2’s fearlessly unironic celebration of inclusivity and kindness.

Ultimately, Paddington in Peru is a delightful adventure that will still charm audiences, but it lacks the effortless brilliance of its predecessors.