Jojo Rabbit (2019)

A young boy in Hitler's army finds out his mother is hiding a Jewish girl in their home.

Jess' Review

We originally saw Jojo Rabbit at the cinema on New Years Day (back when we were allowed to venture out to watch our movies instead of making pillow forts), and I loved it. Revisiting it today, I was curious to see if it had quite the same impact and I’m delighted to say that it’s still absolutely fantastic.

Director Taika Waititi makes a bold choice in bringing to life the story of young Jojo Betzler (Roman Griffin Davis - who is beyond adorable), a 10-year-old Hitler fanatic (considerably less adorable), in the midst of wartime Germany. Filled to the brim with vibrant, memorable characters that you can’t help but like, the film is overflowing with charm despite its bleak setting. Every actor and actress is truly shining here. Griffin Davis is perfectly naive and wholly endearing as the lead, whilst Scarlett Johansson gives a standout performance as his rebellious mother. She brings a great warmth and electricity to her scenes which cannot go without note. She’s brilliant. Amidst the supporting cast of over-the-top Nazis are the ever-amazing Sam Rockwell, Rebel Wilson and Stephen Merchant who all artfully command the spotlight. There is no shortage of acting talent here. Even Waititi’s turn as Jojo’s imaginary friend, an eccentric and goofy caricature of Adolf Hitler, is something to be commended. It’s a difficult role that treads the line of acceptability, but Waititi makes it work.

Jojo Rabbit is controversial at times, shining a light on the very normalised attitudes and prejudices of the time. The audience is confronted with blatant anti-Semitism and racism throughout, something that immediately strikes discomfort in us, and yet it’s depicted in such a way that we soon see humour and ridiculousness in these world views instead. The satire here is artful. Very few directors would dare delve into the world of Nazi Germany in such a genre-bending way, but Waititi captures the balance perfectly. Honest and brutal, yet still undoubtedly funny and entertaining to watch.

The pacing is great and the timing within the scenes impeccable. The comedy is rife, and yet the moments of heartache are impossibly powerful. I sobbed in the cinema (and a little this time too - no shame), entirely taken off guard and unprepared for the emotional battering that suddenly leaps onto screen. Despite the frivolity and silly jokes, there is a ever-present sadness and rawness lingering beneath the surface. It breaks free every now and then to totally disarm the audience, a jarring reminder of how monstrous these time were.

A well-constructed blend of comedy, warmth, anguish and horror, Jojo Rabbit is a film that defies conventions. It’s wonderful in every sense and I truly struggle to fault it. And so, I won’t.

10/10

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Sam's Review

Each time I watch Jojo Rabbit, I take two things away. Sam Rockwell is a charismatic acting force. And, that Taiki Waititi’s writing and directing is impeccable. It is equally as impressive as it is powerful how he weaves between finding comedy in the most bizarre of things to sucking the atmosphere out of a scene, creating these intense emotions.

Jojo Rabbit received very mixed reviews. Some of which reminded me how stupid humanity can be. Often it has been criticized for making light of anti-Semitism or failing to accurately reflect anti-Semitism. Jewish people are described as horned, scaly creatures who can control people with their minds. Of course it’s ridiculous. For one, it’s literally ridiculing the Nazi’s beliefs. Also, the world is shown through a ten year old’s lens. It wasn’t ever going to be the most mature version of events.

I found Jojo Rabbit to be a film about love and humanity, showing how evil ideas can be brainwashed into people. Yet we are all born equal, without evil and without goodness. At its core, the film’s message is that we are all human. It’s possible to argue that it shirks some responsibility in its representation. At times, the Nazis are shown as silly opposed to evil. And the plight of the Jewish people was not delved into. But, this is a film, not a documentary. Besides, it’s through the eyes of a German child who didn’t think the Nazis were evil.

Perfectly cast, perfectly executed. Rockwell is one of my favourite actors. His range, timing and authenticity is stunning. He flits across the screen casually, while dominating every scene he is in. The younger actors (Roman Griffin Davies, Thomasin McKenzie, Archie Yates) were equally impressive, capturing and understanding emotions that belied their age. Waititi and Scarlett Johansson both deserve credit for their roles. Waititi for a truly comedic version of an imaginary friend. Johansson for the power and grace that her acting held.

This film is another reason that Taiki Waititi may well go down in history as one of the greats. His writing and direction are majestic. The beats hit perfectly, allowing the pacing to gently carry us through this funny but touching film.

I find myself so mesmerised by the film that my review falls flat. Perhaps because of the layers and nuance Jojo Rabbit has in how it tackles the horror that was World War 2. As such 450 words is not enough to delve into it all. It’s marmite. Within ten minutes you’ll love the tone of the film or loathe it. The choice is yours. But I found it to be a sharp, eccentric comedy that also had lingering moments of sadness.

9.5/10