Hunt for the Wilderpeople
Film: Hunt for the Wilderpeople [2016]
Director: Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit, What We Do in the Shadows, Thor: Ragnarok)
Starring: Sam Neill (Jurassic Park), Julian Dennison (Deadpool 2), Rachel House (Moana)
Streaming Platform: Netflix
Rating: PG-13
Length: 101 minutes
Genres: Comedy, Adventure, Drama
Review in The Porterville Recorder: https://www.recorderonline.com/features/film-review-wilderpeople-just-might-be-the-perfect-movie/article_e9fc3c20-6b0a-11eb-b01d-3f42ad108fb8.html
If your only exposure to the cinema of New Zealand is the Lord of the Rings trilogy, you might want to check out this independent film from the small island nation. Oscar-winning director Taika Waititi tells the story of Ricky Baker (Dennison), a young man in foster care,
embarking on an adventure with his reluctant foster-father Hector (Neill). The two lead actors have incredible chemistry, and their nuanced performances elevate this film to greatness. Their adventure is imbued with tragedy and danger, but at its core, it remains optimistic about the human experience. The less you know about the story before viewing it, the more you will enjoy and appreciate its numerous surprises. These surprises occur within the plot itself, but also internally within the characters and their relation to one another and their ever-changing situation.
What makes Waititi one of the most talented living film directors is that he is capable of expertly balancing diametrically opposed tones in a given scene. The humor is infused with sentimentality, and the drama is infused with eccentricity. You will laugh out loud mere moments before crying your eyes out. This wide array of emotional experiences while watching the film is not unlike the experience of life itself. As a viewer, you will feel the highs and lows along with the characters. You will likely feel like you are part of the adventure with Ricky and Hector, sharing their ups-and-downs and inside jokes.
This is by far my favorite film to be released in the last decade. At the risk of generating unrealistic expectations, I dare say it is a perfect movie. I recommend it to everyone I know, and I haven’t heard any complaints yet. Something about this movie connects with just about everyone who sees it. Mostly I think this is thanks to the huge heart at its center. It finds love and humor in even the most dire situations. The movie is engaging from the opening scene, and remains delightful until the closing credits. You will see some of the funniest and also some of the most heartfelt scenes ever put in a movie. All things considered, there’s really only one word to describe this movie: majestical. You’ll understand after seeing it.