Paddington in Peru First Reviews – Is Paddington 3 as Good as the First 2?

A decade on from the first Paddington film, we now have a third instalment in the beloved franchise following the titular bear and the Brown family.

Paddington in Peru has hit movie theaters in the United Kingdom but won't journey to the US until the New Year.

However, we can still get in on the action by taking a look at the first reactions which are out now, calling the film "A wonderfully fun adventure with all the warmth, humour, and heart fans of this beloved franchise have come to adore," as per Linda Marric of HeyUGuys.

The film has landed itself a score of 92% on the review aggregate site, Rotten Tomatoes, from 38 critics who are largely positive about Paddington's latest adventure.

Although 92% is a stellar score, it's a noticeable drop from the 2014 film's score of 97% and Paddington 2's 99%, but critics still sing its praises.

"It doesn't matter if this film is much the same sort of thing as the last one, warmed over," says Stephanie Bunbury, "In fact, that's exactly what you want: third time around, the story of the little bear welcomed by strangers remains magical."

Clarisse Loughrey of The Independent says, "Really, all you can do is take what joy you can from Paddington in Peru, because its pleasures are rarer but still sweet."

Among the warmth is some frost, with Nick Curtis of the London Evening Standard saying, "This one, directed by Dougal Wilson, feels ponderous and slow. The slapstick scrapes Paddington gets into are effortful and all the scripted jokes are painstakingly explained, as if younger audience members are dim."

The Wrap's William Bibbiani also had some criticism, saying, "The new film has some heart, but it's buried beneath a lot of hackneyed writing and tedious padding. Like, a ton of padding. A padding ton."

There does seem to be a consensus that Paddington in Peru doesn't match the strength of its predecessors, but mostly, people are just thrilled to be back in Paddington's presence.

Paddington in Peru Review Roundup

• Total Film: It's saying something that the standard of the Paddington films is so high, saying this film is the weakest entry is a bit like calling Machu Pichu the seventh-best wonder of the world.
• indieWire: There's no denying that even Paul King's table scraps taste better than most of what family audiences have been served over the last six years.
• Digital Spy: Paddington in Peru takes a bit of time to find its bearings but ends up delivering all the Paddington feels you hoped for.
• Metro: While it might not quite reach the dizzying heights of Paddington 2, the rich detail, gorgeous design and quality writing and performances still elevate it to among the best films being produced now.
• Cinerama Film: A delightful ode to family, as well as the many shapes and sizes that it can come in, Paddington in Peru charms with its lively humour, bright visuals and fundamental belief in the best of people.