Hunt for the Wilderpeople is the antithesis of a Hollywood movie. It feels home made and local, but that is exactly what it sets out to do. This film makes a point of being unsophisticated. It is set in New Zealand, it has New Zealanders as characters and it shows a New Zealand ethic to the world.
It is a rough film with a warm heart, about a grumpy old man and a juvenile misfit who don’t understand each other at first, but who look after each other’s welfare when needed. Taika Waititi, the director, has a deft hand at showing characters expressing care without using soft words. True affection here is shown by honesty with humour.
It is not a perfect film, but it doesn’t try to be perfect, and that is part of its charm. This film revels in the rebellious; all the main roles are outsiders and happy that way. It is a strange mixture of rural realism and wild fantasy. Some of the characters, especially the baddies are comic book caricature. It is chock full of great lines and the good characters are well defined and warm. Sam Neill is good as Hec, and Julian Dennison is excellent as Ricky. There are also a few, beautifully quirky, cameos.
The scenery is, unsurprisingly, amazing; it is set in outback New Zealand, it is part travelogue, reminding the world why they should want to visit. The soundtrack is unusual and endearing, the birthday song is surprising and funny. It is lovely to see a film that manages to blindside you, and I hope the success of this one results in more of this type of film being made.
The London Lark! 
I loved this film too 🙂
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Yes, Its nice how different it is to other films out at the moment.
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I thoroughly enjoyed it as well
Am hoping the director will be involved in any Flight of the Conchords film if that ever happens
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This would have to be one of my favourite movies of all time. It had me in tears (from laughing). This most charming move I’ve ever seen, and my 9 year old nephew who watched it with me loved it too.
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Charming describes it perfectly!
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I loved it as well, happily seeing it in a small screening room at the Belcourt Theater in Nashville. A great film about outsiders with lovely attention to gender, race, and ethnicity. And you know the director loved his preacher cameo.
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Wow! He was the director! That’s great to know. I loved lots of the small parts, but his stood out.
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Yes, Taika Waititi. He was Viago and co-director of What We Do in the Shadows (2014), with co-star Jemaine Clement from Flight of the Conchords.
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Everyone says that Flight of the Conchords is great, I will keep look out for it.
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It’s great comedy with some amazing homage/send-up music. It’s not like Wilderpeople, though.
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