Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Paddington in Peru!
Antonio Banderas plays a new villain inPaddington in Peru, and his performance steals one of the best parts of Hugh Grant’s Phoenix Buchanan villain fromPaddington 2.Paddington 2has quickly become one of the most acclaimed movies of all time since its release in 2017, with thehighly-anticipated follow upPaddington in Perunot releasing until early 2025. Now that the movie is here, a lot of comparisons are being drawn between the threequel and its eight-year-old predecessor, with one ofPaddington in Peru’s most interesting aspects being its new villain in the form of Hunter Cabot.
Paddington in Perumay be a sequel to the critically-acclaimedPaddington 2, but there are a lot of changes. Firstly,Paddington in Perucontinues the franchise without director Paul King, who directed the first twoPaddingtonmovies as well asWonka.Paddington in Perualso recast Sally Hawkins' Mrs. Brown, with her now being played by Emily Mortimer. WhileHugh Grant’s Phoenix Buchanan does appear inPaddington in Peru, it is only in a cameo role, with one of the biggest changes being the choice to have Antonio Banderas follow Grant up as the film’s new villain.
Antonio Banderas Gets To Play Multiple Characters In Paddington In Peru Thanks To Hunter’s Condition
He Plays Several Members Of The Cabot Family
Antonio Banderas isn’t the only villain inPaddington in Peru, with him being joined by Olivia Coleman’s twist villain, the Reverand Mother. Antonio Banderas' Hunter Cabot isn’t even the only villain inPaddington in Peruto be played by Antonio Banderas, with the actor getting the chance to play multiple characters. In the film, it is explained that Hunter Cabot is the descendant of along line of Cabot explorers who have died while hunting for the treasure of El Dorado, with Hunter having to resist the urge to look for the legendary gold.
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ThroughoutPaddington in Peru, Hunter Cabot has visions of his ancestors, each of whom is also played by Antonio Banderas. Each of the Cabot treasure hunters features the actor donning a new costume and backstory, with him playing conquistadors, pilots, priests, and more. This allows Antonio Banderas to show off his acting range in a unique way, with Hunter Cabot’s condition allowing him to be just one member ofPaddington in Peru’s Cabot ensemble cast. While the other Cabot’s are not literally present in the world ofPaddington in Peru, multiple scenes still allow audience members to spend time with these characters.
This isn’t the first time that a villain in aPaddingtonmovie has been able to play multiple characters, asHugh Grant’s Phoenix Buchanan did the exact same thing in the previous film. Buchanan is an actor as well as a robber, with him using his mastery of disguise to hide his appearance and pull off his villainous plan. Throughout the movie, Phoenix Buchanan plays a nun, a burglar, a businessman, a knight, and even a dog, allowing Hugh Grant to show off his range as well.
This Phoenix Buchanan gimmick is a ton of fun, with it being one of the most memorable parts ofPaddington 2. Hugh Grant’s range is one of the reasons why his performance in the sequel is so well-remembered, with it being core to his character.This is most likely whyPaddington in Perudecided to repeat this trick with Antonio Banderas' character, as the film knew that it couldn’t fail to live up to Hugh Grant’s villain character.
Antonio Banderas' Paddington In Peru Villain Was Good, But Hugh Grant’s Was Still Better
Phoenix Buchanan Stays On Top
While Antonio Banderas was one of the most fun parts ofPaddington in Peru, Hugh Grant’s villain inPaddington 2was still better. Firstly, Phoenix Buchanan was just a more unique character. WhileAntonio Banderas playing multiple characters was fun, this gimmick had already been done before inPaddington 2, with the goodPaddingtonmovie constantly reminding viewers of the even betterPaddingtonmovie.
How Old Is Paddington In Paddington In Peru
The beloved bear Paddington is back in Paddington in Peru, and despite the time jump since the last Paddington movie, he has barely aged a day.
On top of that, the multiple characters gimmick made a lot more sense for Hugh Grant’s character. Hugh Grant’s character is a theater performer, with it making perfect sense that Phoenix Buchanan would use these skills when pulling off a heist. Meanwhile, Hunter Cabot’s visions of his ancestors come from some sort of mental illness, with it feeling less connected to the main story that Buchanan’s characters were. Antonio Banderas does a great job, andPaddington in Peruis a great movie, but it still can’t compare to Hugh Grant inPaddington 2.
Paddington in Peru
Cast
Paddington in Peru follows the beloved bear as he embarks on an adventure to visit Aunt Lucy in her new home at the Home for Retired Bears. Accompanied by the Brown Family, they uncover a mystery that leads them through the Amazon rainforest and the mountainous regions of Peru.
