11. Hunt for the Wilderpeople

11. HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE

Director: Taika Waititi

Release date: May 26, 2016

Taika Waititi had been one of New Zealand’s quiet achievers, writing and directing a string of immensely funny indie flicks (Eagle vs Shark, Boy, What We Do in the Shadows) off the back of his Academy Award-nominated short film Two Cars, One Night. This year’s Hunt For the Wilderpeople cemented Waititi as a fine creator of poignant humanist comedies, no doubt a large reason why the reins of the upcoming Marvel franchise instalment Thor: Ragnarok were dutifully handed to him.

The adventure comedy Hunt for the Wilderpeople was a break-out success in America – and rightfully so. It’s a very funny film, loosely in the “coming-of-age” genre, that tells the story of Ricky Baker (a very natural Julian Dennison), a young teenager who has been bounced around in the foster system. He’s no monster, yet has been cheeky enough to be branded a lost hope. On his last chance, Ricky is sent to a farm with a new set of foster parents. There he is looked after by a very kind “aunty” (Rima Te Wiata) and “uncle” Hec (a grizzled Sam Neill).

A series of unfortunate events lead to Ricky and Hec becoming outlaws, on the run in the New Zealand wilderness. Though Hec was never keen on the idea of taking in a foster child, their predicament ultimately endears young Ricky to the grumpy farmer and they engage in an often hilarious run from the long, bumbling arm of the law.

Hunt for the Wilderpeople was perhaps 2016’s most genuinely funny and heart-warming comedy, rife with memorable and laugh-out-loud moments. It was yet another gem from Waititi, with two fine performances at its centre.