Made of equal parts familial love of Disney and quirky cinematic style of Wes Anderson, Hunt for the Wilderpeople is a strange but undeniably entertaining little indie film from the mind of New Zealand filmmaker Taika Waititi. I have heard about this film for quite some time but it never crossed my radar until recently as I discovered it on Hulu. While this movie is nothing at all like Waititi's beloved What We Do in the Shadows, there is an exceptional charm that stays with its entire production, as lackluster and meandering as the story may be. This film is a great mix of childish, dry comedy and harsh, violent reality, but thankfully that did not take away from its overall tone. With some great performances and an eccentric soundtrack, this film definitely proves how wide the stylistic range of Waititi can stretch.
Hunt for the Wilderpeople follows the troubled character of Ricky (Julian Dennison), a young foster kid who gets put under the care of a rural couple named Bella (Rima Te Wiata) and her convict, outdoorsman husband Hector (Sam Neill). When his aunt Bella suddenly passes away, Hector tries to get Ricky back into the foster care system. Realizing the criminal ramifications of this for both of them, the two decide to evade capture in the vast forests of New Zealand. This script, penned by Waititi and based on the book "Wild Pork and Watercress" by Barry Crump, is arguably one of this film's most divisive aspects. Many of the elements of this film that I loved and did not quite enjoy stemmed from this original story. The best parts of this film come from the dynamic between the indie humor and the often scary reality of surviving out in a dark forest. There is a signature type of comedy that is present in New Zealand films such as this one and the absolute dryness of it all is honestly so enjoyable. There was not a single "laugh-out-loud" moment of this entire script, but rather the subtle and clever jabs that these two had at each other provided for this film's delight. However, throughout this movie, there were many moments of dark drama, such as the scene with the two fighting the pig and Hector having to euthanize his own dog Zag. These dark scenes were scattered throughout this film in such a brilliant way to remind the audience how desperate these characters' situation actually was. Even though one could rightfully argue that this film has issues with picking a consistent tone, I still enjoyed seeing how these characters interacted inside of Waititi's world.
The performances in this film from Dennison and Neill were incredible as well. Their chemistry together was a strangely perfect choice despite their characters' constant bickering and seemingly hatred towards each other. What made them so interesting, however, is that even though they were not the biggest fans of one another, they had to work together to survive in the wilderness and from being caught by the police. This dynamic made these two so hilarious to watch and there could not have been a better pairing. This also makes the ending of the film so much sweeter, as Hector realizes how much he cares for and wants to be a part of Ricky's life. The emotional payoff of this film was done very well thanks to Waititi and I'm happy to see his creative forces at play, especially in an adventurous and almost naive story such as this one. One of my main issues with this film, however, also comes from the idea that this entire story was so naive and almost superficial. While the plot gives way for an emotionally-satisfying conclusion, I feel that the substance throughout the story was a bit ambiguous. A story about a foster kid who is trying to survive with his reluctant uncle could have leaned into its comedy more or focused more on its tension, with the latter being the most probable choice. This movie deals with an often depressing subject matter with lightheartedness and ease, but I can see how many would not be okay with that. This film's themes of love and childhood should not be taken with a grain of salt and the subtext of a fun and wondrous adventure does not necessarily play into those themes very effectively.
Taika Waititi's Hunt for the Wilderpeople is a lesser-known but relatively strong film held together by not just his style, but the dedication of the cast. While the director's signature comedic tone is very evident, this movie also surprised me with its great use of bleak drama. I would definitely recommend this film, especially if you are a fan of Waititi like me and enjoy seeing how diverse and peculiar his filmography can truly be.
My Rating: ★★★½
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