Jojo Rabbit

Jojo Rabbit

Starring Roman Griffin Davis, Thomasin McKenzie, Taika Waititi, Scarlett Johansson

Directed by Taika Waititi

The Nazis are nothing to laugh about, and World War II will forever be one of the darkest moments in world history, and the idea of turning the Nazis into bumbling fools and portraying their fuhrer Adolf Hitler as a child's imaginary friend seems outrageous and downright insensitive - but it's now been done, and the result is anything but insensitive.  Playing itself off as a satire, "Jojo Rabbit" will have you laughing your butt off one minute and reaching for the tissues the next, as it brilliantly blends the true horror of what happened with a lighthearted tone that never comes off as hardhearted - but coming from someone who never experienced it, I can see why some people would shy away from it.

In the waning years of the war, ten-year-old Jojo (Roman Griffin Davis) is a devout Nazi, and his imaginary friend is an aloof Adolf Hitler himself (Taika Waititi).  He's more than eager to attend Nazi youth camp, under the tutelage of Captain Klenzendorf (Sam Rockwell) and Fraulien Rahm (Rebel Wilson), but he's made fun of for not being able to kill a rabbit, earning the nickname "Jojo Rabbit."

After he suffers an accident, he's sent home to his mother Rosie (Scarlett Johansson), who is secretly harboring a young Jewish girl named Elsa (Thomasin McKenzie).  When Jojo discovers her, he's conflicted about what to do - if he tells on her, then he and his mother are killed, but he's also been told to hate Jews, and Elsa doesn't seem at all menacing - so he keeps the secret and inquires about the Jewish way of life to write a book, and the two begin to form their own bond.  As the war wages and threats come closer to home, Jojo must learn to grow up and protect his family before the war comes knocking on their door.

Taika Waititi is a unique visionary behind the camera, as he's been directing quirky, offbeat films for years - but it wasn't until last year's "Thor: Ragnarok" did people really get to know this underrated director.  Not only did he direct one of the best MCU films, but also starred in it as the lovable Korg, who became a character all his own.  Riding the wave of popularity and financial wealth, he finally managed to direct his pet project - "Jojo Rabbit" - and the result is something purely Waititi (although if Wes Anderson also directed it, you couldn't tell the difference): a satirical look at the Nazis, showing their idiocy while also showing the true ravages of the war.

We see this world through the eyes of ten-year-old Jojo, who is a devout Nazi who wants to eventually serve under the Fuhrer himself, and become his best friend - he's even practicing by having Hitler himself as his imaginary friend.  Newcomer Roman Griffin Davis shines in his first role ever as young Jojo, who perfectly blends youthful innocence with unwavering dedication - until he starts to realize everything he believed and was told was a lie, and see a young actor wise beyond his years as he must act his way through his own private warzone.

He discovers his mother is harboring a young Jewish girl named Elsa, and here Thomasin McKenzie equally shines.  She's a tough young woman who is as wary of Jojo as he is of her, and the two share some fantastic banter as they try to deceive and lie to one another (hilariously she tells him "secrets" of the Jews involving them sleeping upside down like bats) but eventually grow to admire and care for one another as well.

As Jojo begins to realize that the supposed monster is actually his friend, he begins to believe his imaginary friend is actually a monster.  Waititi once again moves to the front of the camera as Hitler (which is all the more powerful due to the fact that Waititi is a Jewish man himself, and when he was asked why he chose to play Hitler, said "the answer is simple, what better 'f*** you to the guy?" - he ain't wrong), and shows him as an aloof, foolish, and completely intellectually inept caricature that could've easily become grating and annoying, but he knew when to bring him out and send him back at the perfect times.

Scarlett Johansson absolutely glows as Jojo's lovable mother Rosie, who is adamantly against the Nazis and choose to hide young Elsa in retaliation.  Johansson balances a lovable motherly role to Jojo as well as an unflinching strength to others as she disobeys the rule of law and does what is right, because she knows that society is wrong.  Equally, the other big names in the film - Sam Rockwell and Rebel Wilson - add their own unique sense of comedy to the film, and they all give it everything they have to tell their story well.  

Many of the films centering around World War II tend to use muted greys and blues, giving the world a dark, depressing atmosphere - but here we see the German town Jojo lives in in bright, brilliant color, and everyone around him acting like they're having the time of their lives, even as the Allies are closing in.  It's an interesting take and adds to the comedic value of the film, but also serves to show that the Germans really were mostly in the dark with what was happening in the world around them, aided by an unstoppable propaganda campaign - and even then, there were those who resisted.

On paper it might seem like a terrible idea, but "Jojo Rabbit" works as a satirical look at the Nazis due to its blend of humor and heart, honoring the darkest time in world history and not making light of it, but still providing a funny demeanor with an emotional message at its heart.

The Score: A+