Sundance 2016 Movie Review: ‘Hunt For the Wilderpeople’ is witty, funny, and heartfelt

SUNDANCE 2016 MOVIE REVIEW: HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE

Filmmakers don’t get any more likable than New Zealand native Taiki Waititi. The guy oozes “fun” — and what’s more, so do his movies. Waititi was behind “Eagle Vs. Shark,” “Boy,” and “What We Do in the Shadows,” and soon he’ll be bringing his storytelling skills to “Thor: Ragnarok.” Before Waititi joins forces with Marvel, though, he will share “Hunt For the Wilderpeople” with the world, a wonderfully sharp comedy with a  truly keen sense of comic timing.

As “Hunt For the Wilderpeople” opens, we’re introduced to orphan Ricky (Julian Dennison), a hip-hop-loving youngster who can’t seem to stay out of trouble. Ricky is sent to the New Zealand countryside to live with potential foster parents Bella (Rima Te Wiata) and Hec (Sam Neill), and while this somewhat defiant youngster initially has no interest in staying put, he ultimately finds himself drawn to the loving, understanding nature of motherly Bella. Eventually, Ricky does begin to feel at home until an unexpected event finds him and Hec stuck in the wilderness in what could be best described as a sort of comical spin on “The Revenant.”

“Hunt For the Wilderpeople” is certainly a comedy, but it’s also a wonderful coming-of-age story punctuated by honesty and a heartfelt sensibility that’s downright irresistible. A lot of that honesty comes from the film’s three outstanding leads.

Young Julian Dennison is quite the find. He’s adorable and possesses a sharp sense of comic timing, but he also feels like a real kid. He’s simply a ton of fun in this picture. As Ricky’s grizzled and altogether distant guardian, “Jurassic Park” star Sam Neill brings a rugged sense of playfulness to the proceedings. He’s a man whose bark is worse than his bite, but I still wouldn’t want to be stuck in the wilderness with him. As a pair, Dennison and Neill prove to have dynamite chemistry, and while it might be somewhat obvious to the viewer how Hec truly feels about Ricky, predictability doesn’t hinder the proceedings because this journey through the woods is such a joy to experience.

While the winning team of Dennison and Neill is the centerpiece of “Hunt For the Wilderpeople,” Rima Te Wiata proves to be the heart of the piece. The co-star of last year’s under-seen gem, “Housebound,” creates a warm and charming screen presence in Bella. In fact, it could be argued that the sheer power of Wiata’s performance drives the entire film, even though she’s really only featured in the first act.

Waititi has fashioned a lively movie that continuously brings the funny. It’s clear that this terrific director was inspired by the 80s movies of his youth as is evident by an amusing subplot featuring an over-the-top law official who will stop at nothing to bring Ricky and Hec to justice.

Some of the humor here is a bit on the edgier side, but there’s no denying that “Hunt For the Wilderpeople” is relentlessly witty and sweet-natured, and it’s a testament to Waititi’s skill with tone that viewers will be laughing one moment and crying the next. What an absolute joy this movie is.