--- title: "Hunt for the Wilderpeople: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople" critics_score: 75 critics_reviews: 15 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016): what the critics said Critics' score 75 from 15 reviews: 12 positive, 2 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics respond warmly to Hunt for the Wilderpeople, with praise centring on Julian Dennison and Sam Neill’s mismatched double act. The reviews credit their performances with giving the wilderness adventure emotional weight, while finding plenty to enjoy in Taika Waititi’s deadpan dialogue and absurd humour. His handling of comedy and sadness also earns broad approval: the growing attachment between the boy and the older man generally feels touching without becoming sugary. The disagreement concerns how much substance lies beneath that charm. Some favourable reviews acknowledge familiar storytelling or a setting that begins to feel restrictive. Slant Magazine admires the leads but finds the adventure inconsequential and its wilderness too tame. The New Yorker is the clearest dissent, finding the comedy facile, the plotting mechanical and the sentiment calculated. The spread is wide, then, but the reservations remain a minority response to the performances and humour. ## Empire — Dan Jolin Rating 5/5. 11 September 2016. The film showcases Taika Waititi’s exuberant sense of humour and flair for inventive absurdity in a comically heightened world. It features strong performances, particularly from the young lead, and inventive absurdity throughout its chaptered structure. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/hunt-wilderpeople-review/) ## Film Comment — Michael Sragow Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 1 May 2016. The critic praises the film's rambunctious comedy adventure about an unlikely kinship between a troubled boy and a gruff bushman in the New Zealand wilderness. It highlights the strong performances by Julian Dennison and Sam Neill along with Waititi's deft tonal shifts and direction. [Read the review](https://www.filmcomment.com/deep-focus-hunt-for-the-wilderpeople/) ## Radio Times — Stephen Carty Rating 4/5. This charming comedy combines endearing characters with generous helpings of deadpan humour as a misfit teen and his grumpy foster uncle form a delightful double act while on the run in the New Zealand wilderness. The film is packed with amusing moments and witty exchanges. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-faqfl8/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople/) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 23 January 2016. Festival review. Warmly funny and deeply delightful, this odd-couple adventure blends action, laughs and sentiment into a modest but rich charmer with consistent good humour and sneakily touching moments. Waititi sharpens his deadpan style while populating the story with funny characters. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople-sundance-review/5099228.article) ## Time Out — Tom Huddleston Rating 4/5. 13 September 2016. This charming and offbeat comedy is an absolute pleasure and possibly the best kids’ movie since Up, with a script that borders on genius in places. A few flaws like an irritating cameo do not detract from the overall enjoyment. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople) ## Little White Lies — Anton Bitel Rating 4/3/3. 16 September 2016. The critic finds Waititi's adaptation a charming merger of the literary and cinematic in this storybook adventure about a young Maori orphan on the run. Subversive humour prevents the sentiment from becoming too treacly. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople) ## Slant Magazine — Chuck Bowen Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 22 June 2016. Waititi infuses the survival tale and coming-of-age story with absurdist wit and strong performances, particularly from Sam Neill and Julian Dennison, though the film feels inconsequential and the wilderness tamed. The director is talented but too humble and tentative. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople/) ## The New Yorker — Richard Brody Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 14 July 2016. The critic finds the performances gentle and appealing but calls the comedy facile and cloying. It singles out the mechanical plot twists and calculated sentiment, though a final sequence adds some genuine emotion. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/movies/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople) ## IndieWire — Sam Fragoso 24 January 2016. Festival review. Taika Waititi's film offers a charming, heartfelt story of an unlikely bond between a troubled boy and a gruff older man on the run in the bush. It mixes humor and emotion effectively in a crowd-pleasing Sundance entry. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/sundance-review-taika-waititis-hunt-for-the-wilderpeople-starring-sam-neill-julian-dennison-88197/) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan 23 June 2016. The critic calls the film smart, funny and a pleasure, a hilarious and touching New Zealand odyssey. It singles out Sam Neill's anchoring performance and the irresistible story and young co-star. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-wilderpeople-review-20160620-snap-story.html) ## The Guardian 18 September 2016. A big-hearted picture full of small, understated moments of magic, the New Zealand-based comedy-drama is an off-kilter charmer that focuses on the emotional thrust of a mismatched buddy movie. Waititi downplays broad laughs in favor of an unaffected naturalism in the filmmaking and unpolished characters. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/sep/18/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople-review-unpolished-charm) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Boyd van Hoeij 23 January 2016. Festival review. The film is a deliciously good time, a perfectly balanced blend of drama and comedy as a mismatched foster kid and bushman forge an alliance in the New Zealand wilderness. Waititi is fully in command, creating memorable, loveable characters. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/hunt-wilderpeople-sundance-review-858585/) ## The New York Times — Manohla Dargis 23 June 2016. The critic praises the film as charming and funny, a drama about an unloved boy who finds acceptance. It highlights the expressive lead performance and the director's clear-eyed take on human nature and movies. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/24/movies/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople-review.html) ## The Times — Kate Muir Rating ★★★★☆. 16 September 2016. Hunt for the Wilderpeople has been a huge audience favourite at festivals, with its brand of dark New Zealand humour coupled with a boy’s own adventure story that goes off-road and off-grid. The comedy is warmhearted and ultimately moving, with Waititi never losing fondness for his characters amid the insanity. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/article/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople-p9tct7rbg) ## Variety — Dennis Harvey 23 January 2016. Festival review. The critic calls it a pleasing comedy-adventure that pays cheeky homage to early New Zealand classics. It highlights the strong cast including Sam Neill and the film's roots in Barry Crump's novel. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2016/film/reviews/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople-review-sundance-1201686843/) ## Consequence Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 21 June 2016. Waititi delivers a hilarious and endearing adventure for all ages, fueled by strong performances and a warm, nostalgic tone that feels like a fuzzy blanket. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2016/06/film-review-hunt-for-the-wilderpeople/) ## Den of Geek — David Crow Rating 4/5. 19 April 2016. The review calls it a delightfully bone-dry comedy celebrating Kiwi libertarianism and outsiders versus the system. It singles out the comedic pairing of Sam Neill and Julian Dennison as the highlight of this charming, endearing film. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/hunt-for-wilderpeople-review/) ## Eye for Film — Amber Wilkinson Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 25 January 2016. Festival review. The critic describes it as a warm, surprising and thoughtful adventure romp with the feel of a modern-day fairytale that balances comedy and serious moments well. They single out the offbeat dialogue and the chemistry between the leads. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople-2016-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson) ## /Film — Angie Han Rating 8/10. 24 June 2016. The critic calls it a delightful new childhood classic with wonder, adventure, humor, and optimism. They single out the strong performances from the young lead and Sam Neill for adding emotional weight. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/542293/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople-review/) ## The Skinny — Michelle Devereaux Rating ★★★★. 16 June 2016. Festival review. The critic finds it a charming, deftly told and sweet-natured coming-of-age comedy with clever quirks and strong performances, especially from Sam Neill and newcomer Julian Dennison. It notes the well-worn narrative is freshened by style and character. [Read the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/festivals/uk-festivals/film/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople-slash) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Rating B. 23 June 2016. Festival review. The film is a lighthearted, charming mismatched buddy story with honest emotions and big laughs from its protagonists, though it feels limited by staying too long in the wilderness. [Read the review](https://collider.com/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople-review-sundance-2016/) ## The Playlist — Sam Fragoso Rating B. 24 June 2016. The critic finds it a pleasant, amicable dramedy with likable characters and humor but notes it lacks innovation and feels conventionally unconventional. They single out the young lead's performance for injecting humor and heart. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/taika-waititis-hunt-wilderpeople-starring-sam-neill-charming-wes-anderson-style-comedy-review-20160624/) ## Paste — Kenji Fujishima Rating 7.5. 23 June 2016. The film upends preconceptions with its sincere central relationship between the naive boy and the curmudgeonly man, delivering a disarming storybook fable that mixes whimsy with real pain. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople.md