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DeadCenter is upon us! I got to catch the winner for Best Narrative Feature, Hunt for the Wilderpeople on the opening night and it did not disappoint.

The director of Hunt for the Wilderpeople is Taika Waititi, who first made a splash with the guys from Flight of the Conchords and What We Do in the Shadows, is back in a stronger feature than his freshman effort. Also, as an aside, Waititi will be directing the upcoming Thor 3. I somewhat famously, am not really big on comedies, but this film easily passed my six laugh test in the first sequence. It’s crazy funny and also quite sweet and is able to balance the two. Furthermore, the film quite beautifully captures the New Zealand bush and makes great use of several helicopter shots.

Hunt for the Wilderpeople is equal parts Crocodile Dundee, Jurassic Park, Moonrise Kingdom, and every adoption themed Hallmark film ever. Also there is a Lord of the Rings joke about halfway through the film that is hilarious. It’s the story of juvenile delinquent, Richard Baker who is placed in a foster home far from the city. There he finds love and acceptance from Bella and brilliantly cantankerous, Hick (played by Sam Neil, channeling an illiterate version of Alan Grant from Jurassic Park). After Bella’s sudden death, child welfare decides to remove Richard, but Hick and Richard go on the run in the bush. Over time, Hick’s prickliness toward Richard softens and Richard becomes an accomplished bushman. I will avoid spoilers here, but the overall thrust of the film is that of a city-dweller and a country-dweller learning to appreciate each other, combined with elements of the creation of a family.

It’s an absolutely solid film and loads of fun to watch. It may be a bit schmaltzy in its sentimentality, but it is nonetheless great entertainment. Hunt for the Wilderpeople will be screening again Sunday at DeadCenter and would be well worth catching.