3. ‘Hunt for the Wilderpeople’ (2016)
Julian Dennison and Sam Neill in “Hunt for the Wilderpeople.” (Photo: Piki Films).
“Hunt for the Wilderpeople” is a wholesome family entertainer that also highlights Waititi’s natural knack for comedic writing. Ricky Baker, a misunderstood foster child and Hector, his elderly and grumpy caretaker go on the run in the New Zealand wilderness (also locally known as ‘The Bush’). This is after a series of misunderstandings lead to Child Protection Services growing suspicious about Ricky’s wellbeing. And soon enough, two nobodies have become somebodies and also notorious overnight sensations/outlaws through no fault of their own!
Along their journey through The Bush, Hector and Ricky begin to bond via haikus and meet some pretty interesting and equally misunderstood outcasts — such as a conspiracy theorist who has made The Bush his abode — and who all provide the duo with shelter and kindness. The movie subtly touches upon themes of grief and ostracization from society. It also comments on how the media tends to manipulate news stories to sensationalise an event/issue. There is also plenty of comic relief in the form of hilarious interactions, improvisation, dark comedy, and side-splitting comedic dialogue.
A Wholesome Family Entertainer
The cinematography by Lachlan Milne too is aesthetically pleasing. One dizzying, continuous shot set to Leonard Cohen’s “The Partisan” (Waititi’s got immaculate taste in music) particularly conveys the sense of urgency as the pair attempt to escape the danger that’s quickly engulfing them in freezing temperatures out in The Bush. This all eventually culminates in a wild, exhilarating climax that is pretty much a shot-for-shot reenactment of a “Mad Max” chase sequence. There are moments where the movie even felt reminiscent of a live action version of the animated feature “Up” (2009).
It also features formidable performances and impeccable comedic delivery from the lead pair of Sam Neill and child actor Julian Dennison. Additionally, it includes hilarious cameos from many familiar faces such as Rhys Darby and Waititi himself as a priest who delivers the silliest eulogy in the history of eulogies. The side characters in fact tickled my curiosity so much that I would honestly pay to watch each of them feature in their own spin-offs.
I’m also still trying to wrap my head around Taika using a Cadbury Flake ad jingle as part of the background score in one scene in particular to amplify those hunger pangs brought on by young love…
