Wilderpeople: Do you have the knack?

Hunt for the Wilderpeople, is a 2016 adventure comedy filmed by Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarök). The screen writer for the film is the director Taika Waititi and Barry Crump. The main protagonists of the film are Ricky Baker (Julian Dennison) and Hec (Sam Niell) give a Thelma and Louise vibe as they run through the bush of New Zealand. This film is like Up and Thelma and Louise had a baby and created this cute, funny, heartwarming tale of a foster child and his foster parent.

A country couple, Bella (Rima Te Wiata) and her husband Hec (Sam Niell), take in a troubled foster kid Ricky Baker (Julian Dennison). This is Ricky's last chance to make a home for himself before being sent to juvie. After Bella passes away, Hec receives a letter from Child Services stating they will be placing Ricky into a new home. After this horrible news, Ricky and Hec go on the run in the New Zealand bush while a national manhunt for the pair ensues. They are left with two options: blaze of glory or sticking it out as a family.

Watching this movie late in the evening I was a bit confused on what it would be like with these two actors. Dennison plays a troubled kid in Deadpool 2 and Neill a grumpy man who doesn’t like kids in Jurassic Park. They both seem to bring these roles back in this film. This film is like the live action version of Up without the balloons and floating house. Hec dislikes kids and Ricky just wants to have family. The pair grow attached during their adventures in the bush and work together to avoid the police and child services. The two not only start to act like a team but start to act like a family. All while Hec and Ricky's character arcs go from rough around the edges to considerate and kind. This movie is really just a coming of age movie for both and old man and his ward.

Throughout the movie we see Ricky and Hec travel through the bush surviving on what Hec calls "The Knack", which is just a fancy term for knowledge of your surroundings. These two though start off rough and angry grow on each other. This is what makes the story wonderful. We see both go from rough around the edges to caring and kind in their own special way. They truly become family. As a mother myself I love to watch stories like the unfold in front of me. Watching a different type of family grow and learn. Because that is what family is a process of learning and growing with each other. The theme of this story is very much family forward. We don't always choose who they are but when we find them, we have them forever.

Overall this film is funny and heartwarming. Not only did it give me a good laugh after a rough few days it made me smile watching something that felt so real. Many have experience with having someone come into my life that wasn't blood related and step up to the parental role. It takes time to feel out that role and you have to learn right along with the child. Blended families make up quite a bit of the population. Family isn't always who you are born with it can be someone who comes into your life when you need them most. Films like this give me joy and hope for the world we live in. It isn't always easy, but it is something that can be accomplished with patience and time.