invisibleunicornninja This is an odd, slice-of-life film that is somehow comedic and depressing at the same time. The child actors are actually really good, and the overall events found here are engaging and well-told. Its really funny. My only complaint is that the ending is a bit anti-climatic. I would highly recommend watching this movie, though its probably not for everyone. There's an end-credits scene in case anyone who hasn't seen it yet is wondering.

Darcy The story starts with grannie saying she is leaving for a funeral and she'll be back in a week. She leaves an 11 year old in charge of half a dozen younger children (a brother and cousins?). Auntie is the store owner, bus, driver, mail carrier and doesn't do anything expect hold up a "no" sign when "Boy" asks for a Popsicle.The characters of Boy and his little brother, age 6, Rocky finally meet their dad. Mom died giving birth to younger brother and apparently, "dad" robbed a bank and was in jail. This was never explained thoroughly, but it's besides the point. Dad and his pathetic "gang" of 2 other adult men come to the house and proceed to act much like a boy himself. He is a grown man, but throws temper tantrums, steals weed, digs up a field looking for his stash of stolen money, etc. He's gotten a rockin' afro, bushy porn mustache and coveted logo jacket for his gang. He literally sets up a throne of pallets in the garage for locals boys to worship him. Although he promises his mother over the phone he will spend quality time with the boys, it just doesn't happen. In Maori culture, or any culture, you've got dead beat parents. In the end, it is really the father who is the Boy and the Boy who is the father.My favorite part of this movie was during the end credits when the cast, adults and kids did an extremely bad performance of an American-Maori Dance/Story-Telling Mash-Up of Michael Jackson's Thriller choreography. Very original and funny.

SnoopyStyle This movie takes place in a New Zealand poverty-stricken tribal community in 1984. Alamein "Boy" lives with his younger siblings and grandmother. His hero is Michael Jackson. He has friends. He has a nemesis. He has a crush. While his grandmother is away for a funeral, his absentee father returns. The father is a druggie ex-con, and a horrible influence on Boy. Boy places his hopes and dreams on running away with his father. The start is brilliantly humorous. The relationship is heart breaking. The father is frustratingly childish. The life that they lead is engrossing. There are a couple of great performances from these unknown actors.

p-stepien 1984, deep in Maori country life is laden with hardship from youthful ages. Despite cheerful exuberance and tall tales allowing children to walk the moon the surroundings are destitute, unpromising, when stuck amongst the resigned alcoholism and passiveness of adult role models. Boy (James Rolleston), Rocky (Te Aho Aho Eketone-Whitu) and Dynasty (Moerangi Tihore) are now being brought up by their grandmother, as their mother died during childbirth (to Rocky) and their father Alamein (perfectly portrayed by director / writer Taika Waititi) is doing jail time. Creating fables about his father (ex-war hero, living the high life, and so on) Boy, as the oldest, has been given adult tasks of fending for his younger kin, despite being only 12 years old. Despite having 'potential' he wastes away his time up to mischief with his peers, conveying dream-like stories about his father to his pet goat Leaf, as a getaway from the load of responsibility. The situation changes when Alamein returns to them, not quite a fatherly figure, but nonetheless fulfilling wants of his sons, especially Boy. Strong, masculine, with wicked Michael Jackson moves, Boy becomes enticed with emulating his father. Alamein on the other hand has only returned to town to dig up a stash he buried before being incarcerated, but slowly grows attached to his flesh and blood in ways he doesn't want to admit to himself.Despite the above synopsis "Boy" is nowhere as dramatically morose, as the subject matter would suggest. Instead it is layered with wry, at times brilliant, humour, which manages to pack both an emotional and comedic wallop of epic proportions. Fronted by three charismatic performances of the father and his two sons, comes off an instant classic, which despite dealing with issues similar to that of "Once Were Warriors" has an entirely different take. Comedy and drama intermingle seamlessly delivering one of the most enjoyable movies in memory, whilst delivering a sombre portrayal of the Maori community, not quite as proud and victorious as some would want. Within the confines of a coming-of-age story lies a heartfelt story with immense impact. The ultimate victor is Taika Waititi, arguably now hot property and one of the most promising actors / directors / screenwriters in the world, who deserves all the praise and the success afforded to him by this movie.And whatever you do don't turn off the movie before the end credits or you miss out on the absolutely epic "Haka Thriller"!