#hftw was the first non marvel film of his i watched bc i hear it the most outside of the pirates and the vampires

[constantvariations]

Just finished Wild Pork and Watercress, the book that Hunt for the Wilderpeople is based on. It's a fairly dry and straightforward read. Very much an "and then" book

What really astounds me is the changes Waititi made to the story. Outside of the beginning focus on Aunt Bella and keeping Ricky fat the entire movie, I do not care for a single thing he altered. Some I outright despise

I could talk at length about them all, but probably the most detrimental to the story and themes is the how/why Hector and Ricky got to/stayed in Ureweras

In the movie, Hector isn't willing to fight Social Welfare to keep Ricky around because Bella wanted the kid, not him. So, Ricky fakes his death by burning down the barn before running into the wilds. Hector discovers the false body and tracks Ricky down to take him back. The two spat, Hector gets pissed and attempts to attack Ricky only to break his foot on the terrain. He can't walk, so inexperienced Ricky has to hunt for them both to survive the weeks it'll take for Hector to heal

During that time, Social concludes that Hector has abducted Ricky in a grief-fuelled mental break and begin hunting them, forcing them to remain in the bush to avoid arrest

In the book, however, the two of them decide together that they'd live in the wilds until Ricky, at the time age 13, would be old enough to grow out of the system at 15. Ricky already knows how to skin game, shoot a rifle, and has taken down many animals on his own with Willy the dog

Hector later reveals he thought Ricky would call quits immediately and he would have taken the boy back had he asked. When Ricky stuck it out and even excelled in the wilds, Hector was proud

Waititi’s version strips the two of them of all agency in their situation. Sure, the upped ante of hardcore charges and a gung-ho antagonist is more exciting than two blokes roaming the countryside because they want to, but it's worthless when it doesn't mean anything. It doesn't have the emotional punch of two people choosing to stay together even if it means going hungry or sleeping in the rain

Which kind of makes the movie's ending a slap in the face. The overly dramatic car chase, Hector giving himself up, Ricky turning on him by calling him a sex offender, and then shoots him by accident. All they can do is react to a situation far out of their control

Meanwhile, Book!Ricky, upon hearing that Hector would get approximately 6 months of suspended sentence if they turn themselves in, convinces Hector to cooperate with the law so they'll both be free at the same time (Ricky is 14 1/2 at this point). It takes a few conversations but Hector agrees. They take their sweet time returning to society, and Hector gets to visit Ricky on the weekends until both their times are done

For 5 months, Movie!Hector and Ricky are stuck together as they run and hide from the law

For 19 months, Book!Hector and Ricky get to chose family right up to the very end