Hunt for the Wilderpeople

Writer/Director Taika Waititi’s Hunt For the Wilderpeople is one of those cinematic treasures that come along, occasionally, and restores one’s faith in life and independent film, as well.

This is the story of Ricky Baker (Julian Dennison), who is put into a foster home with a loving Bella (Rima Te Wiata) and her reluctant husband Hector (Sam Neill) near the New Zealand bush country. 

 

This is a “last chance” for the ornery Ricky, who will be sent to juvenile lockup, if this situation doesn’t work out. 

Bella’s kindness wins Ricky over, but, when her untimely death puts Ricky in jeopardy of being cast into lockup, the young boy treks into the bush country to escape.  Hector follows after, but a series of mishaps make the officials suspect the boy may been kidnapped, a chase ensues that develops into a media circus.

If you’ve seen Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom a few years ago, you will love and appreciate this film.  It has the same style and feel of that movie and even when the duo were faced with the most harrowing aspects of their journey, I had a big smile on my face because it is just so damn charming.

I give Hunt For the Wilderpeople a 4.7 out of 5.