In the 2016 film *Hunt for the Wilderpeople*, directed by Taika Waititi, the main character is **Ricky Baker** (played by Julian Dennison), a defiant yet sensitive foster child. While the film is a two-hander featuring his foster uncle **Hec** (Sam Neill), Ricky is the central protagonist whose perspective drives the narrative.
Below are Ricky Baker’s most memorable lines and the specific context for each:
### 1. "I didn’t choose the skux life, the skux life chose me."
* **Context:** Ricky often refers to himself as "skux" (New Zealand slang for a "player" or someone who is cool/gangster). He says this line to project a "tough" image despite his actual background as a vulnerable foster kid who enjoys reading and writing haikus. It has since become the film's most iconic quote and a popular internet meme.
### 2. "Trees. Birds. Rivers. Sky. / Running with my Uncle Hec / Living forever."
* **Context:** Ricky is encouraged by his foster mother, Bella, to use haikus to express his feelings. Throughout the film, he uses them to process trauma and milestones. He recites this specific haiku while they are hiding out in the bush, marking the moment he truly begins to bond with Hec and views their life on the run as a permanent, happy state rather than a temporary escape.
### 3. "He’s molestering me!"
* **Context:** In one of the film's most darkly comedic moments, Ricky and Hec are finally cornered by the police and social worker Paula. Feeling betrayed by Hec’s decision to surrender, Ricky shouts this made-up word to the authorities. It’s a desperate, childish attempt to "get back" at Hec, but it has serious consequences, as it reinforces the false belief that Hec has kidnapped him.
### 4. "Majestical."
* **Context:** Ricky uses this non-existent word to describe the stunning New Zealand wilderness they are traversing. Hec constantly corrects him, telling him "that’s not a word," but Ricky persists in using it because he feels "majestic" isn't powerful enough to describe the scenery. The word has become synonymous with the film’s whimsical tone.
### 5. "I’m still thinking. Something fierce to reflect its true nature. Either Psycho, Megatron, or Tupac."
* **Context:** When Bella gives Ricky a dog for his birthday, she asks what he wants to name it. These suggestions highlight the contrast between Ricky's desire to be seen as a "hardened criminal" and his actual status as a young boy. He eventually settles on the name **Tupac**.
### 6. "Shit just got real."
* **Context:** Both Ricky and Hec say this at various points in the film, usually when their situation escalates from a simple hike into a national manhunt involving the military. It signifies the duo's realization that they are no longer just "avoiding juvi," but are involved in a high-stakes adventure.
### 7. "Uncle, you’re basically a criminal now. But on the bright side, you’re famous."
* **Context:** After learning that the entire country is looking for them and that Hec is being framed as a kidnapper, Ricky tries to comfort Hec with this "silver lining." It highlights Ricky’s skewed priorities, where notoriety is seen as a badge of honor.