Hunt for the Wilderpeople

13 year old Ricky Baker didn’t choose the gangsta life. The gangsta life chose him. However this notorious adolescent has been bouncing from foster home to foster home trying find a family that can love him for who he is. Finally, he is taken in by the kind and loving Bella, along with her grumpy husband Hec. Bella does everything she can to make Ricky feel comfortable and at home, whereas Hec makes it very clear he doesn't want Ricky there. Just when Ricky starts feeling like he may have found himself a stable environment to live in Bella suddenly dies, changing everything. Unsure of whether he wants to live with Hec, Ricky runs away into the surrounding New Zealand bush (after accidentally burning down half of Hec’s home). Hec eventually finds him and they both embark on a strange but epic journey through the wilderness of New Zealand. Finding the boy and Hec to be missing, authorities suspect Hec has kidnapped the boy and hilarity ensues.

Not only was this one of the most hilarious films of the year, but the ludicrous premise along with the heart-warming dynamic between Julian Dennison and Sam Neill made this film an absolutely entertaining experience. In spite of it's small scale director and writer Taika Waititi gives us a wholesome feel for all the characters involved, keeping us thoroughly invested till the end. This ridiculous but witty adventure is a must see for all.

Siddhant Walia