'Hunt for the Wilderpeople' (12A)

Image result for hunt for the wilderpeople poster

****

DVD release/Available to stream

When a rebellious teen and his foster uncle disappear into the New Zealand wilderness, a countrywide search begins to track down this mismatched pair.

A film that had been on my list ever since I missed it in the cinemas, I finally got round to watching Hunt for the Wilderpeople whilst bedridden and intoxicated on a plethora of cold-curing medication. And it certainly appealed to my frazzled state. An undeniably quirky film, Taika Waititi's latest is a heartfelt and often funny coming of age tale, based around a recently adopted obese child and his gruff foster 'uncle'. Essentially a buddy movie about two individuals shunned by society, this charming tale (fronted by Sam Neill and Julian Dennison) is awash with moments of humour as well as sadness. Disappearing into the Bush after an early tragedy, the film segments their adventures into chapters, some which work, others which fall a little flat. Showcasing the beauty of New Zealand's countryside (the tourist board must have been delighted) with a funky soundtrack over the top, this beautifully shot movie actually contains more soul searching than you would expect from the outset. And get ready for a tear-jerking animal-related incident.

It's certainly a very strange film, and anyone hoping to find an out-and-out comedy here will be disappointed, because there are not big belly laughs to be found in every scene. Indeed, towards the end of the film, the humour melts away into pathos and a somewhat more saccharine feel. Similarly, I couldn't work out if I found the ending to be appropriate or too optimistic, and it's something I'm still unsure about now. Maybe there needs to be two different conclusions so you can choose which one you feel like?

Led by two very likeable central characters (and their excellently cast actors) Hunt for the Wilderpeople wasn't the film I expected it to be, and yet I still found a great deal to enjoy. Relatively short (which works in it's favour) and peppered with laughs as well as tears, this thoughtful little movie is certainly one to watch when you need a bit of cheering up.

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