Chrisicisms
Hunt for the Wilderpeople
Taika Waititi’s vampire mockumentary “What We Do in the Shadows” was one of my favorite films of last year, and I’ve been very curious to see what he’s going to do with “Thor: Ragnarok.” I’m even more interested now that I’ve seen his followup to “Shadows,” the delightful “Hunt for the Wilderpeople.”
Waititi’s latest film is the quirky, funny and touching story of Ricky (Julian Dennison), a troubled youth who’s been bounced around foster homes and is at risk of juvenile hall if can’t make it work at his new home in the New Zealand countryside. A family tragedy leaves Ricky lost in the wilderness with adoptive father Hector (Sam Neil), and the two try to find their way home while they become the subjects of a massive manhunt. They’re pursued by a relentless social worker, hampered by Hector’s broken ankle and accompanied by Ricky’s dog Tupac. You’ll have to watch to see if the adventure softens Hector’s crusty heart (but come on).
Think of it as a live-action version of “Up,” without any soul-crushing opening montage, balloon house, or dog pilots (although there are dogs). Waititi, as he’s proven with “Flight of the Conchords,” “Shadows” and more, has a delightfully quirky, dry sense of humor, and what’s surprising about this film is that it rarely goes for the heartstrings or manipulates the emotions. Instead, it’s more intent on making you laugh, and any emotional warmth is a bonus (and it’s there). Neil is fantastic as the curmudgeon with a buried heart of gold, grumpy and funny, but with a poignant back story. And Dennison gets some big laughs as a city youth trying to prove he can survive in the wild. The film is frequently laugh-out-loud funny (Waititi steals the show in his cameo as a local pastor), but also has moments of heart that recall the aforementioned “Up” and “Moonrise Kingdom,” as well as some fun moments of adventure. It’s one of the most delightful films of the year.
“Hunt for the Wilderpeople” is now available through VOD platforms.
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