Cert - PG

Run-time - 1 hour 46 minutes

Director - Dougal Wilson

With news that Aunt Lucy (Imelda Staunton) has gone missing Paddington (Ben Whishaw) and the Browns travel to Peru to find her.

Paul King's Paddington films are the most comforting of comfort films. Warranting multiple rewatches, for me they cement themselves as true all-timers. Without doubt, the bear's third outing, helmed by frequent John Lewis Christmas ad director Dougal Wilson, is the most nervous I've ever been for a film. Seeing Paddington (Ben Whishaw) and the Browns take on their biggest adventure yet with a plot device often used by sitcom-to-big-screen adaptations and franchises on their last legs by sending them on holiday.

Yet, alongside directing duties Wilson also takes on the mantle to 'please look after this bear'. From the typical flashback opening he understands and captures the tone of this franchise perfectly. It may have taken me a few more minutes to properly relax, but as Olivia Colman's Reverand Mother of the Home for Retired Bears bursts into song the familiar warm bear hug of this franchise welcomed me in.

Called to Peru by the Reverand Mother, Paddington discovers that Aunt Lucy (Imelda Staunton) has gone missing in the Peruvian jungle, likely searching for El Dorado. Setting out to find her the family get help from boat captain Hunter Cabot (Antonio Banderas), himself looking for the lost city, and daughter Gina (Carla Tous). There's a much greater sense of adventure this time - apparently inspired by Aguirre and Fitzcarraldo - but the bear's charming outlook on life remains the same. As he remains kind and polite the world continues to be right as he brings to light his aunt's adage: "when skies are grey, hope is the way."

This adventurous spirit is grounded by the franchise's trademark heart and humour, including plenty of wordplay and slapstick from Paddington's innocent clumsiness. Dario Marianelli's score also does great work with recurring motifs to create a sense of wonderment. Yet, amongst the travelling and trekking the heart of the film lies within Paddington's personal journey of home and belonging.

Shortly after being congratulated by fellow residents of Windsor Gardens on becoming a British citizen with the receipt of his passport the first place he goes is back to his homeland in search of the bear who raised him with those who fulfilled the request on the label around his neck in the train station he was found in. The thread of identity so key to all three films is subtly woven throughout the narrative and is brilliantly brought to the fore in the heartfelt closing stages.

It's hard to reach the heights of the first two films, and with one or two unsubtle lines of dialogue about the search for El Dorado this doesn't quite hit those, but there's still plenty of heart and laugh-out-loud humour on display. Leaving a smile spread long after the credits are over, and marking an almost perfect trilogy.

Five stars