"The Hunt for the Wilderpeople," a New Zealand import that won the audience award at Sundance, is pure joy and not to be missed. It's an oddly affecting take on two misfits finding their way to each other. Ricky Baker (13-year old Julian Dennison) is an orphaned juvenile delinquent, a 'real bad egg' as his social worker (Rachel House) announces. When Ricky is sent to live with foster parents Bella (Rima Te Wiata) and Hec (Sam Neill) Faulkner on their farm, it's not exactly a perfect match. The sullen retain takes one lap around the house and climbs back into the car he arrived in. In time, though, he settles in, eventually going Hec on an epic journey through the wilderness while eluding the predatory clutches of social services, vigilante do-gooders and well-armed police and military squads.
This is a coming-of-age tale, the on-the-run road movie, the mismatched buddy comedy, the boy's adventure story all rolled into one and writer/director Taika Waititi maintains a steady hand and knowing understanding of his characters as this story unfolds. You have your chubby Maori foster kid infatuated with urban rebels (he names his dog 'Tupac') and crusty old outdoorsman who wants little to do with his wife's addition to the household and you know they're going to bond. Although Waititi jumps from the silly to heartstring-pulling melodrama, that's part of the fun of this movie. It's laugh-out-loud funny in places and heart-rending in others. Young Dennison is a delight and Neill soars as a gruff man with a soft center. "The Hunt for the Wilderpeople" is a breath of fresh air. Be sure to see it.
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