Film discussion: Hunt for the Wilderpeople

Not unexpectedly, I have a suggestion, which is that you head to The Music Hall on Tuesday night, as fast as your mosquito-bitten legs will carry you and watch Hunt for the Wilderpeople with other Music Hall film buffs. The Music Hall will do its well-known magic while you pluck contentedly at the remains of your peeling sunburn.

Hunt for the Wilderpeople is a comedy from Taika Waititi, a New Zealand filmmaker with a nicely twisted sense of humor. His previous film was What We Do In the Shadows, a mockumentary about a houseful of New Zealand vampires who are getting along in a modern town (despite the occasional session of trash-talking with local werewolves). It’s a very tongue-in-cheek movie with some very funny scenes and a couple of scenes with unexpected other emotions. Everyone (including me) who saw it recommended it to friends.

Wilderpeople is about a city kid with some serious attitude problems who gets sent to live with his aunt and uncle in the New Zealand outback. [Does N.Z. have “outback,” or is that just Australia?] He winds up on the run from the authorities accompanied by his mountain man uncle (played by Sam Neill). Then the fun begins.

Waititi is a very savvy director—he just got picked to direct a Hollywood superhero movie with a budget of grillions of dollars—and Wilderpeople has plenty of cinematic touches that set it apart.

I think you’ll like it. And I know you’ll love the air-conditioning and the free coffee and popcorn that will sustain us through our discussion.

I look forward to seeing you there. Be sure to put next Tuesday’s discussion—A Bigger Splash—on your calendar. (And I’ll be sending a message later this week about our September movies.)