Hunt
For The Wilderpeople (2016/Sony DVD)
Picture:
B Sound: C+ Extras: B Film: B+
Ricky
Baker (Julian Dennison) is a ten year old outcast to society and has
been in and out of the child welfare/foster care system and he
finally finds a family he likes living with, in the outback with Aunt
Bella (Rima Ti Wiata) and Uncle Hec (Sam Neill). When tragedy
strikes, welfare threatens to separate Ricky with his Uncle Hec,
Ricky decides to runaway with Uncle Hec in tow. Soon, it turns into
national manhunt with hilarious results in Taika Waititi's Hunt
For The Wilderpeople (2016).
Ricky
is also fat city boy who suddenly has a rude awakening to reality
when he finds himself in the New Zealand outback. Luckily, it turns
out his new folks are just what he needs, rude, crude and does
anything they want (just like him). When their dear Aunt Bella
suddenly passes away, Ricky and his Uncle Hec decide to hide out in
the bushes (against Uncle Hec's wishes) till things quiet down.
Uncle Hec is even mistaken as 'pervert' and for 'kidnapping' Ricky,
they soon become the biggest targets in the outback hunted by both
police, child welfare and bounty hunters.
This
was a comical movie, like a cross between Crocodile Dundee and
Home Alone. It was about a city kid learns there is a lot
more to life than fast food and TV. This is not bad and family
audiences should check it out.
The
anamorphically enhanced 2.35 X 1 image looks as good as it can for
this format throughout, making one wish for Blu-ray, but the lossy
Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is awkward and when we found out this was a
Dolby Atmos 11.1 theatrical release, the mixdown issues make sense.
Hope to hear it in lossless sound at some point. Extras include an
audio commentary with director and actors, behind the scenes and
blooper reel.
-
Ricky Chiang
