Rental Movie Review: Hunt for the Wilderpeople

One of the perks of having your older kids home for the holidays, at least around my place, is the ongoing discussion of which movies are worth seeing. Preferred genres and styles run the gamut among myself and my offspring so it’s fun to find a flick that makes everyone’s “like” list.

My nineteen-year-old recently recommended Hunt for the Wilderpeople that I felt deserving of review. A bit of research reveals that it premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival and was shown throughout New Zealand, with limited release in America, which could explain why I’d never heard of it.

Hunt for the Wilderpeople is “quirky” to say the least. I tend to appreciate Coen brothers-style humor, so this was a good fit for me. I was immediately overcome with a case of the giggles as the movie kicked off with “Chapter One: A Real Bad Egg.”

A social worker introduces 13-year-old Ricky Baker, the film’s protagonist, with the following warning:

“He’s a real bad egg . . . We’re talking disobedience, stealing, spitting, running away, throwing rocks, kicking stuff, defacing stuff, burning stuff, loitering, and graffitiing . . . and that’s just the stuff we know about.” Clips of a chubby (and incredibly non-threatening) Ricky, engaging in the described flagrant acts of defiance, flesh out the narrative.

(I think it was the “spitting” and “kicking stuff” that brought on my giggles.)

Ricky is a defiant city boy that has been raised in foster care and is headed for the juvie system. A social worker brings him to the home of loving “Aunt Bella” and grumpy “Uncle Hec” who live in the isolated New Zealand countryside, as a last shot at reformation.

Tragedy strikes, and Ricky, his dog, Tupac, and Uncle Hec (who we now learn is an escaped fugitive) become targets of a national manhunt as they flee in to the New Zealand bush, encountering one outlandish adventure after another.

This unique comedy-adventure is a fun, feel-good story with plenty of depth and emotion. Director Taika Waititi, who went on to direct Thor: Ragnarok, magically mixes dark humor and eccentric characters to create a truly heartwarming film. The movie boasts a talented cast, magnificent scenery and creative cinematography.

I would consider Hunt for the Wilderpeople appropriate viewing for young adults and up. Parents should be aware of mild swear words and a graphic hunting scene or two. The movie is free on Hulu and can be rented on Amazon.com for $3.99.