A foster home tyrant and officially the worst boy in the system (Julian Dennison) is taken by a warmhearted woman (Rima Te Wiata) and her misanthropic husband (Sam Neill) on their isolated, mountain property. After she suddenly passes away and with social services en route to retrieve him, the boy and his foster father take to the hills and lead the officials on a chase that gains national media attention. Sweet-natured and funny, Taika Waititi's Hunt for the Wilderpeople changes gears too often and works much better on a smaller scale than as a loud action comedy.
*** out of ****
