CAPSULE: Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016, Dir. Taika Waititi)

If you've seen Taika Waititi's Boy, you'll have a fair idea of what to expect from his latest. Hunt for the Wilderpeople is very much on theme for the director.

Kid (Julian Dennison). Dog (Tupac). Curmudgeonly uncle (Sam Neill). They're going all Bear Grylls in the New Zealand bush, misunderstood, clutching at male bonding tropes and pop culture references, on the run from Child Protection.

There's not much more to it. There doesn't need to be. Waititi is doing what Waititi does best, firing tonally perfect comic incongruences at the screen in rapid succession. And, as always, he knows how to find the perfect conduit. Here, 13 year old Dennison, takes on the mantle and comes out best in show. As troubled foster kid, Ricky Baker, he's an absolute scream, and he still manages to leave bandwidth for an emotional twang or two.

Hunt for the Wilderpeople is the whole package - a film that knows exactly what it is and has everyone on board within minutes. Everyone, that is, except Sam Neill, who is the lone cast member who doesn't quite seem to get it, or at least the only one who can't seem to summon up the pre-requisite level of comic disinterest. His not-quite-gruff-enough Heck, Ricky’s unwilling guardian, is the film's weak point, though thankfully not weak enough to undercut the immensity of its delight.

Destined to become another cult classic for Waititi to tuck under his increasingly well stocked belt. I hope he’s still got enough space to squeeze Thor in there.

★★★★

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