Blu-Ray Review: Paddington in Peru

The Film

Paddington in Peru is the third outing of Britain's most famous bear, and while it doesn't reach the heights of the second one, it's still a lovely and heartfelt film that anyone can enjoy.

Paddington receives his British passport and is officially a citizen of the United Kingdom. His friends and family all come to celebrate, even as Mr. Gruber, an expat himself, informs Paddington that life as a citizen of two countries can feel contradictory at times.

Meanwhile, Aunt Lucy, Paddington's relative back in Peru, goes missing. Without wasting a beat, Paddington and his adopted family, The Brown's, head off to search for her. The adventure takes them from the bustling streets of London to the deepest reaches of the Amazon, where Paddington learns the meaning of family and home.

I hope it doesn't sound like a backhanded compliment to say that Paddington in Peru isn't a demanding or complicated movie. It isn't, but that's part of the charm. This is a simple story told with grace, subtlety, and love. It is accessible to everyone in a way that makes it profound. Part of Paddington's charm, be that in the books or films, is that it says out loud the things we take for granted.

As with the previous films, everyone involved has come to play, and they bring their A-game to the party. At this point, there's no question that Paddington exists. He is like The Muppet’s and lives on a higher plane of reality. Not once do we consider that the cast is speaking to a tennis ball on set. No, it is Paddington, and he is as real on screen as he is in our hearts.

A lot of that is thanks to the fantastic Ben Whishaw, who voices Paddington. He's the glue that holds the film together. Hugh Bonneville and Emily Mortimer are delightful as Henry and Mary Brown, and they bring genuine pathos to the whimsical story.

Visiting stars Antonio Banderas and Olivia Coleman are equally hysterical as Hunter Cabot and The Reverend Mother, respectively. Banderas, in particular, gets to have fun as he plays multiple figures from Cabbot's family tree. For older film fans, it's here that Paddington in Peru surprises even further, as the filmmakers visit and riff on classic Werner Herzog films more than once.

The final act goes a bit off the rails into hectic slapstick territory, but that's almost to be expected. It isn't as wild as the George Miller -inspired finale of the second film, but it has its moments. Yet I did feel the length by the end, something that didn't happen with the prior films.

Nonetheless, this is a wonderful finale to Paddington's story, if it is the end. We learn life-lessons, enjoy a grand adventure, and everyone comes out feeling like they've received a warm hug at the end. That's everything I want out of a film like this, and Paddington in Peru delivers in spades.

Video

This is one of those films that reminds us how great Blu-Rays can still look, even as the format is in its third decade by now. The 1080p picture is vivid and clear, and the beautiful color palette is reproduced fantastically from cinemas to home viewing. The black levels are a nice surprise as well, considering there's no HDR here.

For reference, check out the scenes where Antonio Banderas' has his big monologue during the night before a campfire. The light bounces off the wall with beautiful detail and the highlights look positively stunning.

There is a 4K version available in other regions, and while it's a shame we don't get it here in the Nordics without importing it, the Blu-Ray proves that sometimes that might not be necessary. This is more than good enough.

Audio

Paddington's Master Audio mix is perfectly fine and lively, exactly what you'd expect from a film like this. The dialog comes through crisp and clean, and there's a great balance between effects work and the constantly active score that rarely gets a moment to slow down.

The Finnish dub track is a mixed bag, as is always the case with these things. Unlike other countries, the Finnish mix is a Dolby Digital 5.1 instead of a Master Audio, and the dialog mixing overpowers other effects quite often.

On top of that, it's not a very good dub to begin with. But, it's for kids, and for them it'll probably be just fine. I just wish dubbing received more care these days than it does. The current output is just dire, especially as the voice actors don't seem to understand who they're dubbing and why.

Extras

The extras are, like the film, for younger audiences with only a single Making-of that is geared a bit more for adults.

The Sing Along is very silly, as is expected. The "beary fun" activities are instructional videos for kids, which are surprisingly engaging and well designed. Both are things that would probably work better as interactive extras online, but they're not at all unwanted. In fact, it's nice to see old-school charm like this on physical media once again.

The set tours are extremely lovely, showcasing how much artistry goes into making the world of Paddington a reality. Sadly, they're less than five minutes altogether, which means you only get the briefest glimpse into this process.

The Making of is around 14 minutes in length, and is fine, if unremarkable. Everyone seems to be having a good time and it's the kind of lighthearted fare that makes the film itself so lovable.

Overall

Paddington in Peru isn't the best Paddington film out there, but it's still a Paddington film, which means it's lovely nonetheless. The Blu-Ray release is similarly a happy surprise, featuring delightful extras for the younger audiences, and a terrific technical presentation that should make collectors happy even if it's not the 4K release everyone else gets.

For families and fans of the lovable bear, Paddington in Peru is a must-have title.