As the screen opens to a picturesque forest scene, my expectations are immediately met for the aesthetic aspect of the children’s film “Paddington in Peru,” which was released in the U.S. on Feb. 19. This continuation of the classic “Paddington” series has multiple heartwarming and funny scenes, but various shortcomings end up lowering the movie’s quality.

The movie begins when Paddington and the Brown family go to Peru to visit his Aunt Lucy. When they find out she is missing, they set out on a mission to find her, where they meet the helpful Cabot family and face various trials and betrayals.

Although it is a suitable feel-good film, “Paddington in Peru” could have been much better if more thought had been put into the initial story, like adding an actual conflict instead of making a flimsy one as an excuse to take a vacation to Peru. Sadly, the third movie of the trilogy seems like it is unnecessary, existing simply to continue the series.

Additionally, the lack of character depth in many of the main roles is the biggest disappointment, especially in the Brown family and the newly introduced Cabots. 

At first, the Browns seem to take on the role of the supportive family to Paddington, but they quickly fade into the background, making them too two-dimensional for the audience to care much about them. 

Similarly, the Cabots were initially portrayed as a suspicious family who turn out to be the main antagonists, but they soon drop everything to preserve the family name. It is obvious that the story writers slacked off with the character backgrounds, diminishing the quality of the plot overall. 

The movie is also too fast-paced, leaving out important details in the story. For instance, the Cabots are genetically obsessed with gold, which drives the antagonism for the majority of the plot, but the movie does not offer any real explanation as to why. This, along with the all-too-perfect resolution at the end of the film, makes it seem like there is no real reason for conflict in the whole story. 

Despite the disappointing plot holes and characters, “Paddington in Peru” is not a total waste of time. Familiar faces such as Julie Walters, Olivia Colman and even Emily Mortimer helped keep audiences engaged. While the British film industry has a habit of playing the same tried-and-true cards over and over again, at least they picked good ones. 

Additionally, the innocent humor and constant use of harmless slapstick made the film more enjoyable for children and adults alike. 

Although the lack of depth in characters and gaps in storytelling were disappointing, the movie partially compensates for it with its simple humor, aesthetically pleasing sets and familiar faces. If you are looking for a nice family-friendly film, this movie is worth exploring.