Relatives
None off his foster mothers wanted to adopt your, and then he you can expect to hardly ever really make any members of the family. He had been basically by yourself. This is why, they are antisocial and aside-of-touch, experienced an outstanding by regulators. As he basic becomes combined with Hec and Bella, he could be struggling to really feature themselves inside their family, and you may tries to escape once or twice. Although not, Bella shows Ricky certain facts and you will generosity, and then he acclimates to help you relatives lifestyle.
Whenever Bella becomes deceased and it works out Ricky will have to come back to Guy Characteristics, the guy tries to hightail it, but Hec uses him. On the plant, Hec and you may Ricky function an impractical relationship, plus the disgruntled Hec relates to getting fondly to your feckless orphan. The matchmaking are companionable and familial, and now we see the ways Ricky’s thinking try improved of the their feel that he belongs from inside the a family group. Therefore, the brand new theme out-of family unit members, regardless of what nontraditional otherwise impaired, are main on film.
Emergency and Thinking-Reliance
Another important motif regarding flick is actually survival. Immediately after Hec and you may Ricky go into the forest, he’s no-one else to rely on to exist however, themselves, and you will Hec teaches the young kid a lot in the survivalism. They need to get a hold of protection, food, activity, and only about everything else on their own. A recurring laugh regarding motion picture is the fact that the Ricky is an obese and incredibly clumsy child, whom tend to will get himself to the a good amount of dilemmas.
Throughout the motion picture, Hec and you can Ricky shouldn’t simply survive from the plant alone, also endure within fight the authorities. They find not just to make a sustainable house regarding the forest, also to avoid individuals who happen to be shopping for him or her. Undergoing trying to avoid bringing taken in by the the police, Ricky and you will Hec discover that it that can compare with counting on themselves in addition to their wits to locate because of the.
An effective theme about motion picture is actually writing on losses. About flick, Hec and you may Ricky deal with ab muscles unanticipated loss of brand new lovable matriarch Bella. One another Ricky and you may Hec was heartbroken, and even though the new funeral service was presented in a humorous fashion, we know that they end up being entirely forgotten and you may aggrieved because of her absence. In ways, the movie is focused on how a couple of her or him come across by themselves up and continue regarding aftermath of such a disastrous loss. Both friends function with its sadness because of the bonding with each almost every other on plant, a place one to Bella kept extremely dear.
Resilience
Just about the most amusing parts of Ricky’s identification is the simple fact that the guy thinks of himself because slightly hard, no matter if they are a beneficial pudgy and you will uncoordinated son that is essentially totally simple and you can non-intimidating. The individuals he looks to is actually some one such Tupac and you may most other “gangsters,” as he phone calls them. Hence, a humorous motif will get the new difference between Ricky’s care about-visualize along with his genuine character. In comparison, his foster father, Hec, try undoubtedly very tough and ready to survive because of the his wits regarding the wilderness. Both create an unrealistic few, however, fundamentally they end up being an unbeatable device. The last series of your motion picture is very funny-if you find yourself while doing so being incredibly suspenseful-because it is the fresh pleasure out of Ricky’s fantasies of “gangster” magnificence, including guns and you may an auto pursue. Ricky gets to feel just like a character about Timely and the fresh new Frustrated, hence appears to be their top interest.
Expanding Upwards
More than anything, the film try a coming-of-age story for Ricky. They tells the story out-of an early on guy, neglected by the system, who discovers to expand up-and end up being a lot more responsible for their individual future. Initially, he is completely powerless and you will ineffectual, however, towards the end, he has grow sometime and discovered a feeling of place and that belong worldwide. With the help of Bella immediately after which Hec, the guy grows depend on and readiness.
Character
The title itself cites that it essential theme regarding the motion picture. 
Characteristics takes on a huge role throughout the story. Whenever Ricky arrives at Bella and you may Hec’s, he observes how connected they both are to the newest home for the that they live, and you may admires its resourcefulness from the natural community. Bella shows him to help you have a look and you may says to him one to she wishes to be hidden about bush. Hec was a beneficial survivalist who knows what to accomplish so you’re able to stay real time for an excessive period from the plant. Through them, Ricky learns the ways out of character and you can actually starts to envision himself good “wilderperson,” otherwise an individual who belongs on wilderness. By the end of your own motion picture, despite the these are typically as a consequence of, Ricky and Hec find high satisfaction entering the bush and you will connecting with character, especially if they get the huia, a good bird that was in the past named extinct.
Rumors
A beneficial darkly amusing narrative thread in the film is that that everyone on area thinks you to definitely Ricky might have been kidnapped of the Hec, and that Hec is actually children molester. The newest rumor gets become when Ricky misguidedly says to particular candidates regarding the his and you will Hec’s relationships however, demonstrates to you they very vaguely that it seems like sexual punishment. Eventually, visitors believes one Hec was a beneficial predator, whilst the viewer does know this isn’t the circumstances. It provides to demonstrate you to rumors give easily consequently they are tough so you can dispel.