Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)
I want to follow Ricky Baker.
How did I find myself watching Hunt for the Wilderpeople one night?
It stemmed from a conversation over dinner with a dear, film-loving friend where we casually debated which comedy was the best. This, of course, is a nearly impossible task. How does one debate an entirely subjective and far too limiting topic such as that? Though we left dinner with differing opinions, it did make for a dramatic and overly-heated conversation that we can both look back on and laugh about.
I’ll throw in a brief disclaimer here that Hunt for the Wilderpeople was not in hot contention for winning the prize of “best comedy”. But when my friend described the film as “funny, but in an entirely quirky and offbeat way,” I was intrigued.
In an age of warm and fuzzy, Marvel-type humor that can cater to the masses, I am starved for the fresh boldness of unconventional films that stray from the path paved by good ol’ capitalist economic forces that drive film creation. This film met the bar she had set, much to my delight.
Hunt for the Wilderpeople is offbeat, surprising, and refreshing. The humor in this film is paced uniquely and we don’t get a big pause before the big punchline. The comedic moments are rooted in the subtle (and not so subtle) quirks of the characters. Often the film’s humor sneaks in during an emotional scene or when little seems to be happening onscreen. Taika Waititi has smoothly blended a lightness in tone with a depth of emotional complexity in a way that truly sets this film apart. We as the viewers don’t experience the whiplash of going immediately from a heavy scene into an entirely lighthearted one. The film carries a steady airy and whimsical tone throughout while infusing emotional depth without weighing down the mood.
And this world of whimsy was one that I wanted to spend more and more time in. Film has a unique ability to let you put on the lens of another and live in their world for just a little while. As viewers, we are able to step into someone else’s life and story and experience things as they do. And I absolutely adore the way Ricky Baker sees his world.
This character is both whimsical and deep; his world is full of imagination and playfulness. Ricky does not take himself too seriously, with his brightly patterned sweatshirts against the New Zealand backdrop and a dog named Tupac. Constantly cracking jokes, poking fun at his all-too-serious uncle, and plotting his next highly creative and ridiculous adventures, he is an absolute delight to spend 2 hours with. And yet, he exhibits an inspiring boldness in his emotional vulnerability. He is not just a fun-loving, zany youngster with a big imagination, but also a boy who desires to be cared for and loved. He fears abandonment and, despite his past, he chooses to open his heart to a new family and new relationships. And his wildly matter-of-fact way of stating exactly what is on his heart is endearing and inspiring.
I relish the experience of seeing the world through another lens for a few hours in a dark theater. Some stories make me uncomfortable, some shed light on harsh realities, but some show me that playfulness and whimsy are waiting around every corner. Ricky Baker reminded me to find joy even in the stressful moments of life. And Hunt for the Wilderpeople was the breath of fresh air that I didn’t know I needed.
Listen to our review of Hunt for the Wilderpeople on The Strategic Whimsy Experiment here: https://apple.co/2DH63Vv.
