Jojo Rabbit Movie Review

Jojo Rabbit (2019)

Rent Jojo Rabbit on Amazon Video // Buy the novel Caging Skies
Written by: Taika Waititi (screenplay), Christine Leunens (novel)
Directed by: Taika Waititi
Starring: Roman Griffin Davis, Thomasin McKenzie, Scarlett Johansson, Taika Waititi, Sam Rockwell, Rebel Wilson, Alfie Allen, Stephen Merchant
Rated: PG-13
Watch the trailer

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

Verdict
This movie does so much. It tackles a tough subject from a humorous perspective, but that comedy speaks a lot of truth. Why did Germany commit the atrocities it did? This shows you why through the eyes of a nine year old. The writing is impressive, elevating it from just another movie about World War II to something that balances comedy and drama, while making the subject much easier to watch. The movie often seems ridiculous, but the truth is often just as ridiculous. Making this movie comedic makes it more relevant, not less. Losing the tone would make the movie derivative, or worse benign.
Watch it.

Review
While this was inspired by the novel Caging Skies, the movie takes a lot of liberties, not the least of which is Jojo's imaginary friend Adolf.

Roman Griffin Davis plays Jojo

This is a tough subject, but the first few scenes help lighten the mood. This movie is insane, but the brainwashing that Hitler accomplished is unbelievable. This movie is over the top with comedy, and that makes it easy to miss how people were assimilated. Bullies preyed on the weak. Assimilation became a way to fit in and avoid punishment.

Waititi plays Hitler, and he does a great job. The role gives him a lot of freedom. He's not playing Hitler, but Jojo's imagined version of Hitler. He's a combination of Jojo's beliefs, best friend, and imagination.
Roman Griffin Davis does a great job as Jojo. You can nearly see what he's thinking. All of the performances are more than solid.

While this recalls parts of The Diary of Anne Frank or Come and See, through its tone this movie stands alone. It feels weird to write this movie can be fun at times because of the subject, but it does manage to do that. It's a strange way to approach the topic, but it works. At this point few other approaches are viable.

Thomasin McKenzie plays Elsa.

We delve into the mindset of the regime. The content is real, the only difference is the tone. You can assume that Jojo just doesn't know enough and that's why he sees Jews as subhuman, but everything he knows adults have taught him. One of the most poignant moments is when Jojo asks Elsa to draw where Jews live. Elsa draws Jojo and he responds "that's just my head." Elsa's retort is "that's right." It's such a smart script. Everything Jojo believes is imagined. The Jew he believes in only exists in his head. Jojo has to reconcile what he's been taught with what he is seeing and experiencing. He can't bridge those differences.

Roman Griffin Davis, Taika Waititi, Scarlett Johansson

This movie is something impressive. So often the hard hitting war movies are impactful, but hard to watch again (or the first time). This makes the watch easier. The comedy conceals the depth of the plot and how much Klenzendorf did to help Jojo, something that isn't fully realized until late in the movie.

Jojo Rabbit takes a subject we've seen before and presents in in a new way, not an easy feat. It's easy to enjoy this in the moment, but there's a lot of truth hidden behind the comedy.