'JoJo Rabbit' A Review

JoJo Rabbit is a satirical dramedy set in Nazi Germany. The film follows a young zealous Hitler Youth JoJo(Roman Griffin Davis) during the waning days of WWII, he romps with his imaginary friend Hitler(Taika Waititi), and naively buys into the propaganda of his country. But after discovering his mother Rosie(Scarlett Johansson) is harboring a Jewish girl Elsa(Thomasin McKenzie) who he gradually befriends, his blind loyalty begins to breakdown.

Davis is an astonishing young actor able to be a child but also go through a complex and layered transformation through the course of the story. McKenzie is another supurb casting choice, conveying a startling edge but also a moving tenderness. Ultimately the story is framed around these two and they, justly, hold the bulk of the screentime but the supporting cast all have brief opportunities to light up the screen. Johansson particularly has an incredible scene with JoJo playing both herself and her absent husband. Waititi is always a pleasure to see on screen and is able to tread a bizarre and delicate line playing Hitler as the leads jolly almost foppish best friend. Sam Rockwell also has a nice supporting turn as a wounded German officer tasked with leading the HY and prepare for the inevitable arrival of American soldiers.

What's most thrilling about the film is it's wild and disparate tone, at times light and fun and others startling bleak, like Wes Anderson meets Herzog. And the way the film is shot and structured its as if we are perceving the world as JoJo does, from a child's perspective. It's a shockingly difficult thing to pull off and Waititi does effortlessly. The frequent pop soundtrack paired with grizzly war imagery all folds together to create this singular story, it works despite itself. And the actors are also performing these highwire acts of tone and emotion. It's irreverent and evocative and has heart to spare. Perhaps not for everyone but for those who can get on its frequency it's an inspiring heartbreaking adventure.

Don't Miss It.