Child welfare services officer Paula Hall sees foster kid Ricky Baker as a troublemaker. Auntie Bella takes him in and quickly wins him over. Her husband Hector Faulkner (Sam Neill) is a gruff woodsman. Bella unexpectedly dies and Paula Hall is coming to take Ricky back. Ricky accidentally burns down the shed and runs away. Hec hurts his foot after finding Ricky lost in the woods. Paula rings the alarm as the police fears Ricky has been taken by Hec. It becomes a large manhunt in the wilds of New Zealand. Ricky calls themselves the Wilderpeople after the wildebeests who migrate long distances.
I like the kid despite his sometimes inexplicable bratty behavior. He and Sam Neill have good chemistry. The character Paula Hall does bug me at times. She's trying to be comedic but she's also off-putting even considering she's a villain. There is a joy about the humor that feels real. The kid and Sam deserve a lot of praise.
I like the kid despite his sometimes inexplicable bratty behavior. He and Sam Neill have good chemistry. The character Paula Hall does bug me at times. She's trying to be comedic but she's also off-putting even considering she's a villain. There is a joy about the humor that feels real. The kid and Sam deserve a lot of praise.