Paddington in Peru (2025)    Columbia/Comedy-Adventure    RT: 106 minutes    Rated PG (action, mild rude humor, some thematic elements)    Director: Dougal Wilson    Screenplay: Mark Burton, Jon Foster and James Lamont    Music: Dario Marianelli    Cinematography: Erik Wilson    Release date: February 14, 2025 (US)    Cast: Ben Whishaw, Hugh Bonneville, Emily Mortimer, Madeleine Harris, Samuel Joslin, Julie Walters, Antonio Banderas, Carla Tous, Olivia Colman, Imelda Staunton, Hayley Atwell, Aloreia Spencer.

Rating: *** ½

 The friendly, marmalade-loving ursine returns in Paddington in Peru, a charming three-quel that sends the bear and his human family on the road to El Dorado. The road, of course, is beset on all sides by dangers, toils and snares, but they’re nothing that can’t be overcome by perseverance and working together. Oh, and plenty of marmalade sandwiches.

 I’m not embarrassed to admit I love the Paddington movies. They’re such a delight. They never fail to make me smile. And this is coming from somebody who’s never read a single one of the classic children’s books by Michael Bond. What I like best about them is the titular character’s innocence. He’s completely free of the rudeness and cynicism that routinely shows up in films aimed at children. He’s as sweet as his favorite snack even when offended. That’s when the offender gets a “hard stare” reserved only for those who’ve forgotten their manners.

 Now an official citizen of Britain, the bear in the red bucket hat and blue duffel coat receives alarming news from Peru, his home country. It seems his Aunt Lucy (Staunton, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix) has gone missing from the Home for Retired Bears. Paddington (voiced again by Whishaw of the James Bond movies) goes to Peru to look for her joined by his adoptive human family, the Browns. The dad Henry (Bonneville, Downton Abbey) decides to go after his new boss at the insurance company encourages the staff to take risks. The mom Mary (Mortimer, Mary Poppins Returns) wants to have one last trip with the whole family before the kids get too old. Daughter Judy (Harris) thinks a trip to the jungles of Peru will look good on her college applications. Also along for the journey are younger son Jonathan (Joslin, The Impossible) and housekeeper Mrs. Brown (Walters, the Harry Potter movies).

 When they get to where they’re going, the cheerful nun (Colman, The Crown) who runs the home tells them that Aunt Lucy was acting strangely before disappearing into the jungle. Paddington finds a map leading to a place called Rumi Rock which is said to lead to the fabled lost city of El Dorado. He and the Browns decide to begin their search there. They hire a boat captained by Cabot (Banderas, Puss in Boots) and his teen daughter Gina (Tous, 30 Coins). As it so happens, he too is looking for El Dorado. It’s in his family’s blood. He sees Paddington as his ticket to finding the gold his ancestors died or went crazy looking for.

 I’ll grant that Paddington in Peru isn’t perfect. It spins its wheels a bit in the mid-section when Team Paddington gets lost in the jungle. It’s fine though because it bounces right back when Paddington and Cabot find the place they’re looking for. For the most part (we’re talking 97%), it’s a really good movie. I’d even say it’s great. It’s certainly a nice one. It’s the nicest movie I’ve seen in a while. It doesn’t have a mean bone in its body. It even maintains its good nature when somebody points a gun at our heroes. You can’t say that about too many movies.

 The director, a first-timer named Dougal Scott, delivers a seamless blend of live-action and computer-animation. He makes all interactions between Paddington and real actors look…. well, real. The cast does a great job in their respective roles. Mortimer, taking over for Sally Hawkins, is particularly good as the mom not looking forward to an empty nest. Bonneville has some funny moments as the risk-adverse dad taking a treacherous trip into dangerous terrain. He’s especially afraid of a certain breed of spider (a big purple one) meaning one will surely show up by movie’s end. Colman is a blast as a nun who knows her way around an impromptu musical number replete with obligatory Sound of Music reference. Whishaw, of course, does awesome work as the voice of Paddington.

 I can’t say enough good things about Paddington in Peru. This is the movie to take the kids to see this holiday weekend. It’s a refreshing change of pace from the artifice of Disney movies and the stupidity of Sonic the Hedgehog. I can’t guarantee the older ones (10 and up) will be on board, but the little ones will love it and so will you.