Paddington in Peru (2024)

Taking Paddington out of London is like taking the marmalade out of the sandwich. Still a sandwich, just less of one. This third film flies the bear and the Browns to Peru, where Aunt Lucy has reportedly been acting strange at the Home for Retired Bears, and by the time they land she’s wandered off into the Amazon. Olivia Colman runs the home as its Reverend Mother, and Antonio Banderas plays Hunter Cabot, a riverboat captain who gets very chatty about El Dorado. Paddington is still the politest creature on any screen, and the movie stays sweet and watchable from start to finish. The jokes come further apart this time, though, and away from Windsor Gardens it all plays like a very polite vacation episode. It’s the feature debut of director Dougal Wilson, and he plays it safe. It made $211 million worldwide and earned an A CinemaScore. A 7.0 because a lesser Paddington still beats most family movies. $878 says you buy a jar of marmalade this week and claim it’s for a guest.

What works: Paddington’s gentle manners still anchor everything, and the film stays sweet and entertaining all the way through.

What doesn’t: The gags come further apart than in the first two films, and leaving London costs the series some of its charm.

Who it’s for: Families who have worn out the first two and want one more polite adventure together.