Hunt for the Wilderpeople 4K 2016

The only people who might not have liked this movie are members of the wildlife protection society, because it seems to me that those couple of little wild boars that “suffered” in the film were actually quite cute and charming creatures and certainly didn’t deserve such a fate. But what can you do? Such is life in the wild, where the hunt can target not only wild piglets but also two rather curious characters standing on a higher rung of the evolutionary ladder.

One of them is a social outcast, a typical repeat offender named Ricky, whose record includes such serious offenses as disobedience, theft, spitting in public, throwing rocks, vandalism, arson, loitering, and graffiti—and these are only the offenses known to the authorities. In short, a typical candidate for life in prison. The other, Uncle Heck, is a man who has seen life in all its manifestations and forms, has already grown weary of it, and has nothing left to lose—which makes him incredibly dangerous. And so, the all-out manhunt began for them. It’s a sort of traditional New Zealand spectacle, complete with SWAT teams, dogs, helicopters, armored vehicles, and, of course, the Child Protection Services leading the charge.

I’d been waiting a long time for this movie, and it completely lived up to my expectations. It’s a very heartwarming and soulful family comedy about good and not-so-good people, about love, friendship, and loneliness—and about how sometimes even the smallest thing is enough to change a person’s life and make it shine with new colors. The narrative captivates the viewer and practically never lets go; whereas in the previous film (the one about ghouls) the plot noticeably lost steam by the middle, here there’s no sense of it dragging on, and it’s interesting to watch and root for the characters throughout the entire film. Excellent acting, a magical soundtrack, unforgettable characters, and breathtaking views of New Zealand—what more could you ask for to have a good time? Oh yes, good-natured, sometimes simple humor of all kinds that’s sure to make everyone smile!