Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)

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General		Extras
Category	Comedy	Interviews-Cast & Crew Outtakes Audio Commentary Featurette Trailer
Rating
Year Of Production	2016
Running Time	97
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Layered	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	4	Directed By	Taika Waititi
Studio Distributor	Madman Entertainment	Starring	Sam Neill Julian Dennison
Case	Amaray-Transparent
RPI	?	Music	None Given

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	English Dolby Digital 5.1 English Dolby Digital 2.0 English Audio Commentary Dolby Digital 2.0
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	2.35:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	576i (PAL)
Original Aspect Ratio	2.35:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	English for the Hearing Impaired	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

    Taika Waititi is a NZ based comic, writer, actor and director who has been responsible for a string of films in New Zealand which have found a great balance between comedy and heartfelt emotion. I reviewed his previous feature film, What We Do in the Shadows here , which was a very funny mockumentary based around the idea of four vampires living in a share house in Wellington. His two previous feature films were popular in New Zealand and internationally, being Boy & Eagle Vs Shark. This is his latest film and his most successful to date, Hunt for the Wilderpeople. Again it takes the path of a heartfelt comedy, this time focused on a young teenager, Ricky Baker (Julian Dennison) who has been in trouble with the law and has been in and out of juvenile detention and foster homes. As a last ditch attempt to find somewhere for him to live, his child protection case worker, Paula (the hilariously deadpan, Rachel House) takes him to a house in the New Zealand bush, to live with a woman, Bella (Rima Te Wiata) and her bushman de-facto, Hec (Sam Neill). Initially Ricky resists but soon starts to warm to the wonderful Bella and her grumpy partner, Hec. Just as he starts to settle in though, a tragedy results in him and Hec out in the bush, with Hec incapacitated and no way for them to get out. Whilst they are in the bush, the police and child services decide that Hec has kidnapped the boy for nefarious purposes. Soon a manhunt is underway trying to catch them and bring them in. Hilarity and touching moments ensue as Hec and Ricky try to escape the law.

    This is a wonderful film, comedy suitable for family watching (despite some gory hunting scenes) but also extremely well written and acted resulting in a touching and heartfelt cinematic joy. Julian Dennison is a natural and does a wonderful job as Ricky Baker, a boy who discovers the joys and sadness of being in a family and realises there is more to life than crime. Sam Neill is great as the grumpy Hec and the supporting cast is peppered with great performances including Rachel House, Rima Te Wiata, Oscar Kightley as thick policeman Andy, Taika himself in a cameo as an oddball priest and the always hilarious Rhys Darby as Psycho Sam ("We need to find saddles for rabbits!"). New Zealand provides the usual beautiful backdrop for the story without using the same areas which you would recognise from other films. The cinematography is wonderful, the music adds to the charms of the show and the dialogue is excellent especially in the hilarious cabin scene where Hec and Ricky are found by a group of hunters. The film is based on a book by New Zealand author, Barry Crump who has a truck named after him in the film by Psycho Sam. Based on his wonderful work here and in previous films, Taika has been given the job of directing the next Thor film which he has described as "Like the first two but with more jokes". Can't wait!

    A fantastic film which needs to be seen!

Video

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Audio

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Menu

    The menu features music.

Featurette (3:15)

    A light promo piece but fun regardless.

Interviews (5:23, 3:09, 2:51, 2:56, 0:23, 2:58, 0:55, 1:25)

    A set of EPK style interviews with on-screen questions. Includes Taika Waititi, Sam Neill, Julian Dennison, Rhys Darby, Stan Walker, Rima Te Wiata, Barry Crump's Literary Agent and Taika talking about Crump. They are all worthwhile if a little light. Darby is the highlight.

Bloopers (2:20)

    Funny bloopers which is always good for a change.

Audio Commentary - Taika Waititi, Sam Neill, Julian Dennison

    Although only together virtually via skype, this is an engaging commentary with Neill leaving halfway through just after Dennison joins. They discuss trivia, shooting, challenges, haikus, possum plucking, the Ricky Baker song, Taika's cameo and more. It is a bit random at times but fun throughout.

Theatrical Trailer (2:28)

Reversible Slick

    The US version is similar, however, does not include the interviews which are worthwhile. Win to Region 4.

    The video quality is very good.

    The audio quality is very good.

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Extras
Plot
Overall