The Hunt for the WIlderpeople is a new super quirky New Zealand film released this year and available via streaming. Basic premise is a New Zealand orphaned street kid who thinks he’s gangster (he names his dog 2Pac though his serious crimes include graffiti, shoplifting, and loitering) gets placed by child protective services with a foster family living on the edge of the New Zealand outback. Through a series of odd events and misunderstandings, he winds up in the bush with his foster uncle on the run from SWAT teams and a particularly aggressive social worker.
As noted, this is a quirky indie film out of New Zealand that’s often laugh out loud funny. It also makes a strong case for moving to the island nation and getting lost in its nature… just like Lord of the Rings did (and there’s a laugh-out-loud Lord of the Rings reference in the movie too… because it knows what its doing and what its referencing before the audience does). The movie is beautiful to look at, really showcasing the nation’s wild places.
I highly recommend this film if you like quirky comedies, especially when spoken with a kiwi accent. I really laughed hard at the jokes and felt the movie had a strong, beating heart as well. The relationship between the boy and the gruff old man is charming and funny. I say check this one out.
Score: 87