“Come on. Have some breakfast, then you can run away.” —Bella
Today’s quick review: Hunt for the Wilderpeople. Ricky Baker (Julian Dennison), a troublesome foster child, finally finds a loving home when he is adopted by Bella Faulkner (Rima Te Wiata), a kind woman who lives on a farm with her gruff husband Hector (Sam Neill). Everything is going well until Bella dies unexpectedly, leaving Ricky and Hector on their own. Unwilling to return to Child Services, Ricky escapes into the wilderness with Hector.
Hunt for the Wilderpeople is a comedy adventure written and directed by Taika Waititi. The movie follows a reclusive man and his foster child on a trip through the New Zealand bush. Along the way, Ricky learns to survive in the wild, grows closer to Hector, and evades a manhunt led by Child Services worker Paula Hall (Rachel House). The result is an endearing comedy with warm characters, a simple but heartfelt story, and a charming script.
Hunt for the Wilderpeople’s greatest strength is its characters. Ricky is a troublemaker with delusions of being a gangster, but his loyalty and inquisitiveness make him a joy to spend time with. Hector is a gruff loner who only takes care of Ricky out of necessity, at least at first. Over the course of their adventures, they develop a rapport that forms the heart of the film. It is a simple setup, but an utterly effective one.
Hunt for the Wilderpeople is an excellent pick when you’re in the mood for a feel-good watch. The characters are easy to like, the jokes are quirky without feeling artificial, and the story has a distinct flavor of its own. Hunt for the Wilderpeople is not as overtly comedic as some movies nor as emotional as others, but it strikes a nearly perfect balance between the two, making it a light and rewarding watch.
For a similarly quirky comedy about the hunt for a runaway boy, try Moonrise Kingdom. For an animated adventure about a grumpy old man and the boy he learns to care for, try up. For another understated comedy about a man and his surrogate child, try Paper Moon. For a superhero comedy about a foster child finding a family of his own, try Shazam!.
7.9 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 for endearing characters, a well-crafted story, and fun comedy.