Synopsis
Ricky is a defiant young city kid who finds himself on the run with his cantankerous foster uncle in the wild New Zealand bush. A national manhunt ensues, and the two are forced to put aside their differences and work together to survive.
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Cast
- Sam NeillHec Faulkner
- Julian DennisonRicky Baker
- Rima Te WiataBella M. Faulkner
- Rachel HousePaula Hall
- Tioreore Ngatai-MelbourneKahu
- Oscar KightleyPC Andy Tappert
- Stan WalkerRon
- Mike MinogueJoe
- Cohen HollowayHugh
- Rhys DarbyPsycho Sam
Recommendations
- 90
Screen Daily
Warmly funny and deeply delightful, Hunt For The Wilderpeople is a tale of two misfits told with such generosity of spirit and consistent good humour that it’s a pleasant surprise to discover how sneakily touching it is as well. - 90
New York Daily News
The best thing the director has going for this one is the talented young actor playing Ricky Baker, as he constantly tries to emulate his tough "gangsta" heroes like Tupac Shakur. (He even names his dog "Tupac.") - 83
Consequence
Filmmaking this fresh, this vibrant, and this affecting for all ages is rare these days. - 80
The Hollywood Reporter
[Waititi's] nimble adaptation here combines solid writing with an entire bag of filmmaking tricks that includes visual gags, unexpected cuts and quick montage sequences to score laughs from the get-go. He also cleverly exploits who these people are to get the audience in stitches. - 75
The Film Stage
Throughout his films, Waititi has always been skilled at melding comedy with trauma and crafting screenplays with crowdpleasing callbacks. Hunt for the Wilderpeople is another such example of amiable, kind-hearted storytelling. - 75
The Playlist
By extension of the film's unending niceness, Waititi has made a movie mired in the middle-ground, a terrain marred by the absence of innovation. - 75
The A.V. Club
Works best when it straddles the same line between mild hostility and equally mild affection. - 70
Variety
For the most part, pic’s sheer good-naturedness pulls off a not particularly inspired crusty-old-coot-thawed-by-young-scamp concept, maintaining an agreeable tonal balance despite occasional wobbles between spoof, sentimentality and silliness.
