Boy, an 11-year-old child and devout Michael Jackson fan who lives on the east coast of New Zealand in 1984, gets a chance to know his absentee criminal father, who has returned to find a bag of money he buried years ago.
James Rolleston
Boy
Te Aho Aho Eketone-Whitu
Rocky
Taika Waititi
Alamein
Moerangi Tihore
Dynasty
Cherilee Martin
Kelly
RickyLee Waipuka-Russell
Chardonnay
Haze Reweti
Dallas
Maakariini Butler
Murray
Rajvinder Eria
Tane
Manihera Rangiuaia
Kingi
Darcy Ray Flavell-Hudson
Holden
Rachel House
Aunty Gracey
Waihoroi Shortland
Weirdo
Cohen Holloway
Chuppa
Pana Hema-Taylor
Juju
Tuhoro Ranihera Christie
Mr. Nepia
Craig Hall
Mr. Langston
Mavis Paenga
Nan
Ngapaki Emery
Mum
Ngaru-toa Puru
Che
Hoanihuhi Takotohiwi
Hucks
Tainui Callaghan
Kiko
Manaia Callaghan
Miria
Ei Kura Albert
Chardonnay's Friend
Montana Te Kani-Williams
Falcon Crest
Rangiteaorere Raki
Young Darcy
Wairangi Herewini
Kingi's Friend
Waimihi Hotere
Teacher
Heke-turoa 'Panache' Ropitini
Chardonnay's Friend
Ruataarehu Waititi
Chardonnay's Friend
Te Urikore Waititi-Lake
Noodle
Stu Rutherford
Jail Guard
Justiun Haiu
Beat It Gang
Jarod Rawiri
Beat It Gang
Francis Kora
Beat It Gang
Chris Graham
Beat It Gang
Kereama Wright
Beat It Gang
Madeleine Sami
Beat It Gang
Billy Mizer
Beat It Gang
Director, Writer
Taika Waititi
February 16, 2025
7
I really enjoyed James Rolleston’s performance here as his enthusiasm just leaps off the screen at you! His character hasn’t even got a name, but he lives with his gran and the scene-stealing “Rocky” (Te Aho Eketone-Whitu) who has the most fantastic superpowers - not! He is the original Michael Jackson superfan and it’s only his dad who can hope to come close to that level of adulation. His dad “Alamein” (Taika Waititi) is off as a temporary guest of Her Majesty though, and so just imagine his excitement when gran has to head off for a week to attend a funeral just as his father and a few of his pals show up! The young lad is just too absorbed to realise that they a not playing “dig an hole in the garden” for fun, but because there’s some ill-gotten loot buried somewhere. The question isn’t really if they will find it, but who will find it and with a ravenous goat never far from shot, will it survive intact! This is an amiable character study of rural New Zealand in the mid 1980s with a small town, close-knit, community mentality that sees everyone - well the only lady in the place (Rachel House) - look after these kids including “Dallas”, “Dynasty” and there’s even a “Falcon Crest”! She and “Alamein” butt heads occasionally, especially as he becomes more and more frustrated that he can’t find his cash but it’s all amusing stuff. After a fashion, he does care for his son and as the search continues the bond develops. Not so predictably but entertainingly turbulently and with plenty of daft, earthy and witty dialogue from just about all concerned. It celebrates the beauty of their location too but it’s the charming “Rocky” whose merest finger gestures can make things fly or resurrect the dead that really made me smile most. Didn’t we all think, as weans, that we had some sort of magic power? His are illustrated by childlike animations (on graph paper, too!) and, well you can watch and see. It does run out of steam a little, and maybe the joke tires towards the end, but it’s a fun observation on disjointed family life and it’s well worth and hour and an half.