50 new things in 2023, part 5/50

[kindkit]

This week's new thing was the film Hunt for the Wilderpeople, written and directed by Taika Waititi. It's about a young New Zealand boy who's been in a series of foster homes, then finally finds one where he's happy--but some things go wrong, and he ends up on the run in the wilderness with his curmudgeonly foster-uncle. It's about one-third comedy, one-third heartwarming found-family drama, and one-third adventure/thriller as the two end up the subjects of a nation-wide manhunt.

Tonally and in certain details it has a lot in common with Our Flag Means Death, which makes me wonder how much influence Waititi had, behind the scenes, on OFMD's writing.

I don't have a ton to say about it, but it was mostly a lot of fun and the scenery was fantastic. I also enjoyed Taika's cameo and Rhy Darby, who I didn't know was in this but who damn near steals the show.

Below the cut are a couple of content notes I wanted to mention: the film contains human death, animal harm and death (specifically the death of the uncle's dog), and a few completely unnecessary fat jokes, which didn't ruin the movie for me but did make it less enjoyable.

Comments

[cyprinella]

My husband and I went to see that movie in the theater back in the day. We walked out afterwards and I said "That makes me want to--"
"Visit New Zealand? Yeah, me too," said J.
"No, I was going to say foster kids."

[facepalm]

[kindkit]

*laughs* That sounds like it could be the beginning of a whole other movie. (Only in the movie, you'd each think the other understood what you meant, and hilarity??? would ensue.)

[pallas_rose]

I loved that movie. It made me cry several times. His foster aunt 😭😭😭😭

[kindkit]

I had no idea that was coming, and I may have yelled "Oh my god, no!" loud enough for the neighbors to hear. I wonder if somebody's written fanfic in which she doesn't die--she's such a great character and it was genuinely upsetting to lose her.

[greenwoodside]

I remember enjoying it after watching it close to its original release date, but I'd like to rewatch now that taika waititi has become TAIKA WAITITI in my mind.

[kindkit]

*nods* I hadn't seen any of them except one of the Thor movies, so I'm trying to catch up now.

[thawrecka]

It remains the only Taika Waititi directed film I've actually enjoyed, but I liked it very much. I think I called it New Zealand style Up once when recommending it to a friend 🤣 And I still quote, "I didn't choose the skuxx life, the skuxx life chose me."

[kindkit]

I want to watch more of his films, though I've heard mixed things about them. I didn't love WWDITS, but I liked it well enough, so I guess I'll see how I feel about the others.

[marginalia]

I did not love Wilderpeople like so many folks did - it was a hit at the film festival - but at the time I really liked Boy. I haven't seen it since it was released, though so I don't know how it or I have aged.