New Zealand writer/director Taika Waititi makes it four great films out of four with this year’s Hunt for the Wilderpeople. It is also his first to gross $1 million in its opening weekend at the NZ box office - in fact, it is the first NZ film to ever do that.
The film, based on Barry Crump’s 1986 novel Wild Pork and Watercress, follows young Ricky (the brilliant Julian Dennison) and his introduction to new foster parents, Bella (the brilliant Rima Te Wiata) and Hec (the brilliant Sam Neill). And then...well, it would be a shame to give anything more away, but things basically get sweet and funny and sad and epic.
Anyone who has seen Waititi’s previous films, Eagle vs Shark, Boy, and What We Do in the Shadows, should know that he does humour very very well. The latter is easily one of the funniest films ever made. I’d actually say that Hunt for the Wilderpeople is his weakest film, but not by a long way and it is still top notch. There are brief stilted moments within this, which I didn’t find in his others, but they are fleeting and don’t interrupt the flow enough for it to damage the film as a whole.
The film’s humour comes from the dialogue, but also from visual gags and sometimes unexpected and leftfield directions. Though it is primarily a comedy, there is certainly some heart to the story, which never falls into over-sentimentality. It comes from a genuine liking of the well written characters and their journey through the wilderness – physically and mentally. All the actors are spot on – main and supporting. Julian Dennison is perfect as the loveably annoying kid and plays off the grumpy Sam Neill in a way akin to the protagonists of Pixar’s Up.
It is always great to see Waititi’s use of Maori actors too, something which he hopes to bring to the casting of next year’s Thor: Ragnarok, which he is set to direct. I am a little worried about him being a director for hire but it may have been worth it just for the short film Team Thor, which he wrote as well as directed this year – which you all need to see.
So yes. A charming and hilarious film. See it.
Hunt for the Wilderpeople will be shown at Broadway Cinema until Thursday 29 September 2016.
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