Boy (2010)

Another excellent Taika Waititi movie. This was his second film, and while the story is definitely looser and less polished than some of his other work, it’s still beautifully done, with its young cast delivering humor and pathos in equal measure.

11-year-old Boy thinks all his dreams are about to come true. His long-absent dad has just returned home—in Boy’s mind, his dad Alamein is an incredible figure almost as mythic as his pop idol, Michael Jackson, and he can’t believe his good fortune to have his hero back in life. But up close and personal, Alamein is a far cry from the legend Boy has built up in his head.

First of all, like all of Waititi’s work, the film is very funny. Its humor, which ranges from ramshackle slice-to-life to whimsical absurdity, doesn’t miss. I love Boy’s awkward efforts to impress an older girl (along with his own pet goat!), his little brother Rocky’s unshakable belief that he has superpowers, and Boy’s over-the-top fantasies about all the amazing things Alamein has done while he’s been away—the scene of him tunneling out of prison and fighting off guards with a spoon is especially great. Some jokes are loud while others are subtle, and we get amusing banter, fun sight gags, and silly physical comedy alike.

But I think this is also probably Waititi’s saddest film overall. Again, all his work expertly blends comedy and drama, but Boy has the strongest thread of sadness running through its whole story—which, considering Jojo Rabbit, is quite the feat. I think for me, it comes down to how immediately we the audience can see that Alamein is a pretty shitty guy, but Boy continues to worship the ground he walks on. While Alamein does seem to love his sons, he’s self-centered and deeply immature, and he continually prioritizes himself over them. We can see it, but Boy doesn’t, and that makes my heart ache for him—honestly, it makes my heart ache for everyone involved.

The movie has a strong indie vibe, with a wandering script that takes plenty of detours as it moves leisurely through its plot. As such, it feels rougher than something like Hunt for the Wilderpeople or Jojo Rabbit, but it does a terrific job of creating Boy’s world and letting us see it through his eyes. I love his recurring fantasies, as well as the brief interludes of Rocky’s perspective, conveyed through his drawings.

James Rolleston is wonderful as Boy, an awkwardly offbeat everykid who entertains with his misadventures and endears with his sweet innocence. Waititi plays Alamein as a wayward man who never developed the tools he needed to be a father, and he’s by turns awful, ridiculous, and even pitiable. Te Aho Eketone-Whitu acquits himself nicely as the adorable Rocky, and the film also features Rachel House.

Warnings

Language, violence, sexual references, drinking/smoking/drug use, strong thematic elements, and some outdated jokes (which I assume are intended to be outdated, given that the film is set in 1984.)