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Hunt for the Wilderpeople
PG13 (UNITED ARAB EMIRATES)
2016
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97 %
Certified Fresh
$ 38 Million
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Hunt for the Wilderpeople
Positive Reviews
135
Negative reviews
2
Average Rating
4.1
/5
frenetic
hilarious
gorgeous
wonderful
distinctive
All
Positive
Negative
3.5
The film does sometimes play more like a series of loosely related sketches than like a narrative, and it occasionally veers into maudlin sentimentali ..
Av Club
4.0
If youre assuming this is just another lost in the wilderness journey with spiritually healing results, consider yourself pleasantly duped.
We Got This Covered
3.5
Hunt for the Wilderpeople is a thoughtful and hilarious film with nuanced performances from the two leads.
Austin Chronicle
4.0
Hunt for the Wilderpeople is a funny film to encounter at a festival a broad, crowd pleasing PG comedy from the director of an upcoming superhero sequ ..
Austin Chronicle
4.5
Hunt for the Wilderpeople is a thoughtful and hilarious film with nuanced performances from the two leads.
Austin Chronicle
4.0
Theres a strong whiff of Up in its story about a chubby boy and an old man setting off on a jungle adventure.
Time Out
4.5
Blending action, laughs and sentiment, this droll comedy is a modest but rich charmer.
Screen Daily
3.5
Its a warm hug of a movie that has just enough spark and fire to stop it from fading from your memory the moment the credits roll.
Collider
3.8
Cinematographer Lachlan Milnes sweeping, colorful panoramas and a chapter based narrative structure gives Hunt for the Wilderpeople the feel of a stor ..
Paste Magazine
4.4
And yet Waititis film defies its convention through grounded characters, witty dialogue, compassionate filmmaking and inventive storytelling.
Rogerebert
4.0
It is full of smart, witty moments, and more than a little touching.
IGN
2.0
Throwaway moments sing all the time, even when the whole, on this occasion, is a darn sight harder to swallow.
Telegraph
5.0
It isnt hindered by a need to cast a cynical gaze over its story, instead embracing everything that is genuine and pure about the narrative and the he ..
The Young Folks
4.5
Its off beat in all the best ways, has fantastic actors all delivering fantastic performances, and is an uproarious adventure with endless heart.
Cinema Blend
4.5
Its a wonderful slice of New Zealand bred humor that should have a far wider appeal than Waititis previous films.
Ny Daily News
4.5
I loved every minute of it and it was an absolute pleasure to watch.
JoBlo
4.4
Those may sound like the perfect ingredients for a saccharine drama about loving and learning, but in writer director Taika Waititis hands, theyre mer ..
The Globe And Mail
5.0
Propelled by a wild mix of absurdist humor and pathos, Hunt is an epic coming of age story that has Ricky traverse a gauntlet of emotions and experien ..
Philly
4.0
Ricky Baker (Julian Dennison) is viewed as a troublemaker and juvenile delinquent by the child welfare worker, Paula (Rachel House), who has toxic fee ..
Spirituality And Practice
3.8
The surprise of Taika Waititis Hunt for the Wilderpeople is that it takes a well worn premise and turns it into a quirkily funny delight.
One Guys Opinion
4.5
Its an informational civics lesson masquerading as an actual movie.
Village Voice
2.8
But it has too many strained feel good moments for my comfort zone.
Sover
3.5
With Eagle vs. Shark, Boy, and What We Do in the Shadows, Waititi has showcased outstanding timing and creativity, displaying growing confidence with ..
Blu Ray
3.5
Like Mark Twain, Waititi looks for humor in quirks of character and degrees of stubbornness, and the natural challenges of Crumps wilderness journey g ..
Chicago Reader
3.8
The absence is felt, although thats kind of the point.Once the presence of such goodness and humanity is gone, its necessary that the people who have ..
Mark Reviews Movies
4.0
Directed by Taika Waititi, whose previous film was the excellent vampire comedy What We Do in the Shadows, its formulaic at heart, but has a sweet, un ..
The Times
4.0
Hunt for the Wilderpeople has been a huge audience favourite at festivals this year and you can see why, with its brand of dark New Zealand humour, co ..
The Times
4.5
It is filled with quirky, compelling characters and witty dialog.I, like many other critics, believe comedy is much harder to get right than drama, so ..
Lariat
3.8
He pulls off a neat trick, too, when the movie ends up being sweet and affecting despite its characters disdain for mushy stuff.
Eric Ds Nider
4.0
There are a few gags that dont quite land, but so many amusing moments and witty exchanges mean that doesnt matter.
Radio Times
4.0
Strong performances and a firm directorial presence in Tom McCarthy make Spotlight a worthy recipient of this years Best Picture Oscar.
Independent
3.8
An oddball and oddly affecting take on two misfits finding their metaphorical partner in crime match.
Rolling Stone
4.4
True evil may not exist, but uncaring institutions and flawed adults do.
News Day
4.5
It has heart instead of spectacle, and gorgeous vistas instead of state of the art CGI effects.
Film Journal
4.0
Directed by Taika Waititi (co director of the uproarious vampire mockumentary What We Do in the Shadows), this downplays the broad laughs of its prede ..
The Guardian
3.0
Dennison holds his own opposite Neill, who hasnt been tasked with such a gravely amusing role in years. Together, the two are comic dynamite.
The Guardian
4.5
Dennison is a marvel, completely unself conscious in his portrayal of a kid who is lost but thinks if he acts tough, itll look like hes found. Neill, ..
Az Central
4.0
This might not suggest a comedy but Taika Waititi cant help himself.He sees gags in every situation.
Smh
4.5
But the films subject offers an ideal opportunity to bask in nice crane shots of the countrys untamed beauty.
Npr
5.0
Its crammed with remarkable jokes and great performances, heart twanging moments of pathos, awesome cinematography and an overall sense of rambunctiou ..
Star Tribune
3.2
Dennison juggles foulmouthed brattiness and sweet sincerity well enough, and Neill soars as a gruff outdoorsman hiding a soft, chewy center.But the fi ..
Ew
4.5
Neill and star Julian Dennison have a wonderful chemistry with one another, fueling what is an odd coming of age drama comedy.
Cinema Crazed
4.0
Hunt for the Wilderpeople is a simple, affecting comedy; its grizzled elder and young upstart camaraderie may be as old as the rolling hills its playe ..
Flim List
4.5
It can get a little samey because of this, but overall it remains engaging.
Film Inquiry
5.0
And with Neill he forms a fractious double act that manages to develop a convincing emotional connection between spiky whippersnapper and cantankerous ..
Empire
4.5
The remainder of the movie is part buddy adventure, part gentle comedy hat tip to films like Sleeping Dogs and a hell of a lot of fun.
Eye For Film
3.8
Filled with gorgeous vistas of mountainous New Zealand it almost feels like an epic at times and oddball characters, Hunt for the Wilderpeople has muc ..
Sf Gate
2.5
Ricky and Hector lurch from adventure to adventure in a series of mechanical plot twists with a calculated blend of laughter and tears, and only a fin ..
New Yorker
4.5
Depending on how you look at it, its either a comedy with solid dramatic underpinnings or a drama so light on its feet that it plays like the purest c ..
Time
3.1
And many of the jokes are clever but self consciously minor, causing one to smile or giggle, but never to truly give in to the humor of a situation.
Slant Magazine
4.5
It finds humor and love in a potentially grim situation without ever belittling or caricaturing the characters.
Slant Magazine
3.8
And so it goes, in a buddy comedy in which the joshing, lighthearted humor in time gives way to outright silliness worthy of Monty Python at its most ..
Washington Post
5.0
Mr. Waititi started out in comedy, shifting to movie directing more than a decade ago with little evident strain.
The New York Times
3.5
Much to the contrary belief of the government officials, their actually journey is as charming and touching as one might expect from the writer direct ..
The Film Stage
3.8
There are child actors who make an impression by being so dramatically fluid, theyre like miniature versions of their adult costars.Then there are kid ..
Boston Globe
3.8
Young Dennison is a natural, ably portraying his gangsta exterior as a protective shell waiting to be cracked.The kids got deadpan comic timing.
Reeling Reviews
4.0
Waititi puffs up the mythology of the place only to pop it like a balloon.
The Irish Times
3.5
Whenever Waititis script falters dramatically, Dennison is there to inject an uproarious one liner.
Blogs Indie Wire
4.5
In all films except for childish comedies, it would considered bad taste to make jokes about the fact Rickys overweight, for example.
Hollywood Reporter
5.0
Essential in this is the utter conviction the two stars bring to characters who really do not have much use for each other.
Los Angeles Times
3.8
His latest, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, will do nothing to sully that reputation, being thoroughly quirky, sweet, funny and endearing.
Detroit News
3.5
But for the most part, pics sheer good naturedness pulls off a not particularly inspired crusty old coot thawed by young scamp concept, maintaining an ..
Variety
3.8
The picture has more genuinely funny moments than most so called comedies at the multiplex, abetted by Waititis now practiced comic sensibility, his s ..
Groucho Reviews
4.5
Benedict Cumberbatch Wants You To Know He *Is* The Motherf*cking Grinch The Grinch star takes Mike Ryan through the final scenes of Avengers: Infinity ..
Hit Fix
4.4
Hunt for the Wilderpeople manages to be touching without turning sappy, and funny without relying on cheap humor.
Aisle Seat
4.5
There is a rare strain of comedy movie that wields a light common touch with intensely irresistible power.
Herald Sun
4.0
The film as a whole is packed with some great laughs and tremendous performances.
Hey U Guys
4.0
But the silly stuffs great, too, especially once Waititis Shadows pal Rhys Darby turns up as an eccentric bushman.
Now Toronto
4.4
Wilderpeople is great fun; its a moving and original film with a striking blend of wit and drama thats well worth your time.
Deseret News
4.5
Still, its an entertaining and sometimes touching film with Julian Dennison a great asset.
Urban Cine File
4.5
If you are looking for a skillful combination of storytelling and charming silliness, go and see it.
Film Ink
4.0
The lumpy title is fortunately the most awkward thing about this gentle and effortlessly deadpan comedy.
Ner Dist
3.5
No returns, jokes an unhelpful social worker dropping off a supposed juvenile delinquent named Ricky Baker (Julian Dennison) at his latest foster home ..
The Age
4.5
Cinematographer Lachlan Milne lavishes attention on the awe inspiring New Zealand landscapes, but maybe couldve cooled it a little because every once ..
Maki At The Movies
4.5
There never seem to be convincing danger or stakes, and the humor is too often for kids alone.
La Weekly
4.0
But over familiarity hardly matters when the sparks of chemistry needed to heat up old genre coals are so winningly struck by Dennison and Neill.
Games Radar
5.0
This really is a friendship with as much for the adults as the kids.
Raidió Teilifís Éireann
3.0
Taika Waititi lays on the charm in this storybook adventure yarn about a young Maori orphan.
Lw Lies
3.0
Its such a shame it still suffers from the sentimentality and essential tropes of so much of this type of entertainment.
Abc
4.5
Its whackiness and borderline fantasy might not be for everyone, but theres a universal, childlike appeal to the story that feels too powerful to deny ..
Nz Herald
4.5
Fortunately the lead performances remain engaging all the way to the end.
Nz Herald
5.0
That wont detract from a hilarious, heartwarming tale that harnesses script, direction and performances and takes plenty of creative risks on its way ..
Flicks
5.0
But when a movies this good, its tough to avoid cliches, so Ill leave you with another: Dont miss it.
The Stranger
4.5
Even better, writer director Taiki Waititis droll blend of American deadpan comedy and Kiwi deadpan comedy comes with a surprise bonus: Murray Hewitt ..
Cleve Land
3.5
It wanted nothing more than to make us laugh and it succeeded mightily.
Stuff
4.5
Terrific 1980s synth music laces a soundtrack thats worth purchasing so you can continue to get the warm fuzzies in your own time.
Stuff
3.8
If you like your comedy to have a visual kick, feast your eyes on this family film from director Taika Waititi (What We Do in the Shadows, Eagle vs. S ..
Larsen On Film
4.0
Watching this lovely little lark from New Zealand, you may feel like a happy camper on a twisty trail blazed by a cockeyed comic prodigy.
Wsj
4.5
But its also utterly charming, and surprisingly moving in ways you never expect.Be sure, there will be tears, and they are well earned.
Patriot Ledger
4.4
Waititi made his feature directing debut with Eagle vs. Shark (2007), an offbeat romance that did for New Zealand what Napoleon Dynamite did for south ..
Sltrib
4.0
Wilderpeople feels like a throwback to 80s adventure films in some ways, but it mostly just feels like a new childhood classic.
Film
4.5
It should be a moment of great sadness but youll find yourself laughing at the same time.
The Film Pie
4.4
Endearing duo bring plenty of heart to captivating Wilderpeople Life has a funny way of interfering with, well, life.
Chicago Sun Times
4.0
But the movies intense charm, killer performances, and offbeat musicfrom Nina Simone to 70s soft rockmake it a must see for 2016.
Straight
3.0
You can take the wannabe gangsta out of the city, but taking the gangsta out of his sweet rebel soul is another thing entirely.
Sandiego Reader
4.0
At the top of all this charm is some brilliant photography and editing, seemingly done mostly in camera.
Cinemix Tape
3.0
It isnt afraid to throw safety and common sense and sometimes even good taste (theres a running gag about pedophilia) to the wind and indulge in some ..
Metro New York
4.5
This Mad magazine type romp was truly humor in a jugular vein, mixing a slice of undead life with a parody of the perils of house sharing.
Film Comment
4.0
This is by far Waititis most ambitious and accomplished film to date, and he handles the combination of jokes, heartwarming moments and ridiculously o ..
Sbs
4.4
And they do, in a kind and moving story bristling with honest humor and genuine affection for its characters.
Daily Herald
4.0
Theres not too much in the way of emotional heavy lifting, really; Hunt For The Wilderpeople is light and full of laughs, but it has a beating heart t ..
The Shiz Nit
4.5
You will need your brain to appreciate this movie on its many levels.
Crave Online
4.0
Quirky outsider comedy is clearly Waititis forte, and here its polished to an effortlessly funny, confident and crowd pleasing shine.
The Skinny
3.0
After deglamorizing vampires in last years hilarious What We Do In The Shadows, director Taika Waititi slips into Wes Anderson mode for this Barry Cru ..
Under The Radar Mag
2.5
The pulsing electro pop soundtrack, the 70s action film camerawork, and the emotionally manipulative script are designed to evoke every emotion it can ..
The Verge
4.5
Thats a typical bit of ridiculous banter for Wilderpeople, which frequently reveals its adults as more childish than the kids.
The Verge
5.0
Based on a book by Barry Crump, the picture is a thoroughly winning combination of the comic, tragic and surreal, with just a touch of Wes Anderson wh ..
Seven Day Svt
3.5
Hunt for the Wilderpeople basically is a family film, but it has two look away scenes, when wild boars spray blood.But that gives the film a toughness ..
Tony Mack
4.0
So begins a touching and terrifically funny odd couple on the run story that lovingly and faithfully harks back to various NZ comedies of the 80s.As R ..
Concrete Play Ground
4.4
Until then, enjoy this wonderfully unpredictable, eccentric tale.
National Post
3.5
Dennisons comic timing and cheeky bumptiousness are a joy to behold.
The Australian
4.0
Writer director Waititi has built a career out of making unusual film comedies most notably the geek romance Eagle vs Shark and the offbeat vampire ta ..
The National
3.0
Its far from original grumpy old git bonds with mouthy adolescent but is delivered with such joy infused enthusiasm its almost impossible to resist.
Sky
4.0
In many ways Waititis film is reminiscent of countless other entries in the coming of age genre, though it stands out because of its wonderful sense o ..
Fan The Fire Magazine
3.0
Waititi continues to mature as a filmmaker with each new movie, adding tricks to his arsenal that improve the overall product, but while Hunt for the ..
Blog Bullz Eye
4.5
A mixture of comedy, drama, whimsy and anarchy (and with plenty of charm to spare, even if sometimes the tone wavers a little), this is almost impossi ..
Film Ireland
4.5
In fact its a coming of age comedy with a heartwarming soul that never slips into easy sentiment.
Stream On Demand At Home
5.0
Wilderpeople is a tale of finding family, adventure and purpose when youre on your last dice roll.
Graffiti With Punctuation
5.0
Kiwi filmmaker Taika Waititi returns with hilarious, all ages romp through Nee Zealand jungle A joke that you can tell anyonethats rare.So is a movie ..
Metro Active
3.1
That discrepancy gives the movie its humor, which relies on endless variations on Hecs disdain for Rickys helplessness.You will not doubt for a second ..
Heral
4.0
The PG rated film never seriously tests its classification rating but, watching it, one cant quite shake off the feeling that something bad might happ ..
News
5.0
Waititis writing is strong and the pictures characters are wonderfully distinctive.
Seattle Times
3.8
While I could go on and on about what good company Neill and Dennison are, its an actress named Rima Te Wiata who works the most magic.
Looking Closer
4.5
Pleasing and agreeable, yes, but there is discomfort to being affable.Cameron Williams The Popcorn Junkie.
The Popcorn Junkie
4.5
Waititi does it all with a distinctive voice too, made all the more enticing by its Kiwi accent.Wilderpeople takes the charm and sensibility of Boy an ..
Junkee
4.5
So you get the best of both worlds: acerbic comedy style and unabashedly sincere storytelling and old fashioned themes.
Reviews Antagony Ecstasy
3.5
Hunt for the Wilderpeople Directed by Taika Waititi Opens June 24 Blessed be New Zealand.While other countries flock to the mega movies that even Amer ..
Bk Mag
4.5
The characters of the child care worker and her lackey are played too broadly, and at times the films pacing feels just a tad too frenetic.
Spokane7
4.4
It promises to warm the heart of even the most curmudgeonly Hec in your life.
Baltimore Magazine
4.5
The filmmaker Taika Waititi has a long history of mining wry humor out of awkward emotion.
Sandiego Union Tribune
4.0
Stunning cinematography by Lachlan Milne brings out the luscious beauty of New Zealand.
Its Just Movies
2.0
Waititi manages the balance of tones perfectly and his eye for editing and action show both scale and restraint, so he wont fall short and wont go ove ..
Nerd Report
3.5
Its heartwarming message combined with creative, fantastical elements make it unique and memorable.
Times Herald
3.0
The young actor shines in a breakout performance that merges sass with sentiment.
Montreal Gazette
4.5
Full of character and comedy, its easily one of the best films of the year.
Spin Off Comic Book Resour ..
3.5
Vacation photographs often capture perfect moments in favorite places.
Missoula News
4.0
Thus the story of an untraditional family finding an inner peace seems welcome and inevitable, but it is also not to be.
Den Of Geek Us
3.5
Bring hanky for this actor knows how to do it right.With dazzling cinematography that shows New Zealand at its best, and a soundtrack that surrounds y ..
The Phantom Tokkboth
3.5
Wilderpeople is ultimately winning, like all buddy comedies, because of the chemistry of its leads.
See Where to Watch
Hunt for the Wilderpeople