From New Zealand comes Taika Waititi’s “Boy”, a reflection drawn from his own personal life as a child. He sets the stage by opening with many quite amusing scenes, but slowly heads to greater depths where everything isn’t all non-stop fun.
Boy (James Rolleston) is an eldest child being raised by his grandmother. He spends some of his life in a fantasy world where his father is a hero of sorts even though he is not around. He also idolizes Michael Jackson. “Boy” takes place at a time when Michael Jackson was a god to many young people.
When Boy’s grandmother drives off, he finds himself in charge of his younger siblings. That night, his father, Alamein (Taika Waititi), shows up. It is the first time that Boy has seen his father. Until then he had told his schoolmates that his father was off on some momentous quest. The truth is that Alamein has been in prison. While this could be a father-returns-home to establish bonds with his son deal, it isn’t. Alamein has a different agenda.
Alamein shows up with two buddies who it is fair to say are not all that bright. They drink, smoke pot, and have a notion of themselves as a gang. When they test their toughness they come up on the short end of an altercation.
Boy and his father establish a relationship of sorts and this makes Boy feel almost like he has a father. However, Alamein has returned home for an entirely different reason: he is in search of a paper bag containing a lot of money that is buried nearby.
“Boy” alternates between feel-good, clever, and funny, with a touch of drama. It works, even if its goals are not all that lofty. By the end, you will have enjoyed it and you may even feel rewarded by the experience. It’s difficult to imagine anyone loathing this particular “Boy”, so take a trip down-under for a light and enjoyable trip.
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