hunt for the Wilderpeople
Composite Score: 83.5
Starring: Sam Neill, Julian Dennison, Rima Te Wiata, Rachel House, Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne, Oscar Kightley, Troy Kingi, and Rhys Darby
Director: Taika Waititi
Writers: Taika Waititi and Tearepa Kahi
Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Drama
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for thematic elements including violent content, and for some language
Box Office: $23.92 million worldwide
Why should you Watch This Film?
Hunt for the Wilderpeople is Taika Waititi’s film based on the book Wild Pork and Watercress by New Zealand author Barry Crump. The film stars Sam Neill and Julian Dennison as its central figures – an aging bushman, Hec, and the foster child, Ricky Baker, who lives with him and his wife. A delightful blend of comedy, drama, adventure, and coming-of-age tale, Waititi’s adaptation of Crump’s work is highlighted by the writer/director’s iconic sense of humor and eternally optimistic spirit in the face of all odds. It is the feel-good film of all feel-good films, telling a story about how we process grief in a way that still leaves the audience happy in the end.
Why shouldn’t you Watch This Film?
I wish I could give something concrete here that could make me sound less biased in the film’s favor, but for me, I can’t really think of a gripe I have with the film. It’s not necessarily the most elevated form of comedy, designed to elicit laughs at least once every few minutes with intentional jokes and situations. Its third act skews a bit into the realm of absurdism, leaving the realism of the first two acts behind in favor of car chases, strange men living in trailers, and villains that exist on the border of maniacal. For me, though, it feels reminiscent of so many Wes Anderson films, injecting that sense of wonder and fantasy into reality in a way that reminds audiences why we watch films in the first place. Suffice it to say, that I don’t really have any great reasons to not watch this film.
So wait, why should you Watch This Film?
Hunt for the Wilderpeople is one of my go-to films when I or someone I know needs cheering up. Yes, it starts with tragedy, but the whole rest of the film is about overcoming tragedy and turning it into opportunity. The growth of both Hec and Ricky throughout the film provides the perfect vehicle to leave you feeling encouraged and optimistic at the end of the film. For Hec, his growth comes as he interacts with Ricky and is forced to rely upon the boy after being injured. After his loss (and before it as well), the character was fairly unwilling to accept help of any kind from others, but his relationship with Ricky teaches him to accept the help that he needs and to open up to others in the process, forming that strong father-son bond with the boy during their time on the run. Ricky’s growth mirrors that of Hec in the way that he learns from Hec’s skill in the bush that he does in fact need people as well. When they first enter into the bush of New Zealand, Ricky is overconfident and still a little bit hesitant to trust Hec, but Hec’s instruction and increasing faith in the boy lead Ricky to a place where he can embrace familial bonds again and accept instruction from adults.
Along those same lines, the film’s positivity also extends beyond just the optimism for processing grief with family. The film showcases the positive impact that positive expectations and reinforcement can have on a young person during their development. Where Rachel House’s Paula Hall views Ricky only as another case of a “bad kid” in the system, Hec and his wife Bella recognize and encourage the potential in Ricky. The contrast between the Ricky at the beginning of the film when he is dropped off on the couple’s farm and the Ricky at the end of the film who not only loves his family but sees good in others as well is striking, exhibiting the impact that family can have on a child. Hec is by no means an overly affectionate person, but his ability to pay attention to Ricky and his willingness to help him and to demand excellence of him help shape Ricky’s growth and facilitate a coming-of-age story whose catalyst is predominantly positive (tragic death notwithstanding).
Hunt for the Wilderpeople is a feel-good film that focuses on emphasizing the importance of interpersonal relationships and positive interactions between people in bringing about true growth in people, which makes it a truly great film, worthy of its position. An oddly fantastical third act might be jarring for some viewers, but I think it only serves to endear the film to the audience even more. This film is currently available to stream on Netflix for those of you who are interested, and I can’t recommend it enough.
