One of the best comedies of the last decade, from ‘Jojo Rabbit’ writer-director Taika Waititi, tells the story of two unlikely companions roughing it out in the wilds of New Zealand,
Ricki (Julian Dennison) is the bane of social services. The twelve-year-old has been shunted from foster home to foster home. But he might have finally found the perfect place to live with Bella (Rima Te Wiata). There’s only two problems. Bella lives in the middle of nowhere and her husband Hec (Sam Neill) doesn’t seem too happy about Ricky being there. But when tragedy befalls them and Ricky and Hec find themselves on the run, they soon realise they had more in common than they thought. Dennison and Neill are superb as the oddest of couples, while Rachel House is a riot as a near-psychotic probation officer. Waititi’s script is overflowing with gags and the film rattles along at a breathless pace. It’s no surprise that the filmmaker went on to direct the enjoyable ‘Thor: Ragnarok’. But this comedy wins out for its locations, performances and riot of hilarious set pieces.
★★★★★ “You’ll be left with a glow that’ll ensure ‘Wilderpeople’ a place on your best-of-year list” - Dan Jolin, Empire
