Hunt for the Wilderpeople

Last year’s Taika Waititi film The Hunt for the Wilderpeople was delightful in so many ways — its antic sense of humor, the warm embrace of the makeshift family as a center of healing for wayward kids, a darling dog named Tupac. But Waititi’s greatest service was introducing us to Julian Dennison, a pint-sized actor who nailed his character Ricky’s ‘Notorious B.I.G. by way of New Zealand’ vibe. The film left fans curious about which clever director would put the kid’s toughness and charm to proper use, and judging from a new post on Instagram, it would appear that the boy’s taken his first major Hollywoo

Every single week, new movies open in theaters. Even if you go to the multiplex regularly, there’s just not enough time to see it all (at least without losing your job and family). So when you’re looking to catch up with some of the year’s best, where should you start?

If you’re one of those people who thinks that this past summer proved that movies are dead, may I cheerfully offer you Hunt for the Wilderpeople as Exhibit A in Hollywood’s defense? Not only did Taika Waititi give us one of the year’s best films in his hilarious and moving coming-of-age film, he also reminded audiences that Sam Neill is the kindly uncle we all wish we had in real life. Movies like this are one of the big reasons that Marvel was so quick to snap Waititi up for the upcoming Thor: Ragnarok movie… and why the current state of cinema is as good as it’s ever been.

Sam Neill is a prolific actor, perhaps more so than most people seem to realize. Best known to a particular generation for roles in Jurassic Park and Event Horizon, Neill’s long and fascinating career can’t really be reduced to a certain genre or character type. So it’s both pleasantly unexpected and not at all surprising to see him as a curmudgeonly and stoic, but ultimately kind-hearted uncle in Hunt For the Wilderpeople, the adventurous new coming-of-age comedy from Taika Waititi — the director of What We Do in the Shadows, who also recently signed on to helm Thor: Ragnarok for Marvel.

You might not know Taika Waititi’s name right now, but you will.

The 2016 SXSW Film Festival lineup is looking better and better. If the latest from Richard Linklater and Jeff Nichols weren’t enough to get you excited, then this latest batch certainly will.

Taika Waititi made arguably the best comedy film of last year with What We Do in the Shadows, and before he dives into the MCU as the director of Thor: Rangarok, he’s at Sundance this week to premiere his newest comedy. Hunt for the Wilderpeople is already earning positive reviews out of the festival, and this short trailer for the film offers a quick look at what all the fuss is about.