‘Wilderpeople’ doesn’t sacrifice heart for humor

Clearly taking pages from the Wes Anderson school of filmmaking, "The Hunt for the Wilderpeople" is the third release from New Zealander Taika Waititi, a name that may not be household in the States, but who is certainly blazing a unique comedic style that gets stronger with each release.

The first film from the writer/director, "Eagle vs. Shark," was a light, idiosyncratic indie that earned him favor for its off-kilter approach to visuals, but seemed to overload on the quirk factor in its script. But his follow-up, the 2014 vampire mockumentary "What We Do in the Shadows" demonstrated just how sharp Waititi was as a writer. Not only was the film solidly hilarious throughout its runtime, but it demonstrated an affection for its leads that made it much more than a zany comedy.

"Wilderpeople" is perhaps his most accomplished piece yet. And although the style here owes much to the storybook style of Anderson, you can sense the confidence with his craft and his ability to cover as much ground with his characters as he does the Kiwi countryside.

Ricky Baker (played by Julian Dennison) is a rebellious, overweight young orphan who is plopped down in the middle of the country to his new foster family, "auntie" Bella (played with endearing enthusiasm by Rima Te Waita), and a none-too-enthused "uncle" Hec (played with grouchy conviction by Sam Neill). Just when Ricky begins to make headway in his new home, Bella dies, leaving him and Hec alone and at odds.

Hec cannot deal with the loss, much less the responsibility of a young boy in his life, so he phones child welfare to come take him back, but Ricky decides to vanish into the bush before his social worker arrives. Hec sets out to find him, which only fuels rumors that he has abducted the young boy, and the two decide to elude the police as they manage to make their way through the wild.

It's a fairly simplistic plot, and one that has been used countless times, but it's told with such compassion for its characters, conviction from its leads and creativity from its director that it works as though it is just off the showroom floor. The matter-of-fact delivery of its deadpan humor mixed with a genuine survival tale keeps the pace rolling as we warm to our leads and root for their safety.

Dennison demonstrates impressive timing and comfort for his age. Neil essentially riffs on his "Jurassic Park" role of Dr. Grant - if he retired from life and decided to become a hermit, and Rhys Darby from "Flight of the Conchords" and the director himself add to the merriment in side-splitting bit parts that dot the landscape.

It all adds up to a genuine family film that will satisfy adults as well as older children and can win over even the most jaded filmgoer. It's as sweet as it is silly and does not sacrifice its heart for its humor.