2019 | Dir. Taika Waititi | 108 Minutes
"You're not a Nazi, Jojo. You're a ten year-old kid who likes dressing up in a funny uniform and wants to be part of a club, but you are not one of them."
In the final days of World War II, an insecure Hitler Youth member named Jojo is bullied by other Nazi boys but receives constant reassurance from his imaginary friend Adolf. Jojo's world is turned upside down when he discovers his mother is hiding a Jewish girl in their attic.
Featuring bright and colorful sets and costumes, and German versions of anachronistic pop songs permeating its soundtrack, Jojo Rabbit is as broad and funny as director Taika Waititi's supporting performance in the role of the off-the-wall imaginary Adolf. The way the illusory dictator plants both silly and hateful ideas in the young Jojo's head encapsulates Waititi's view on the absurd and childish nature of fascist rhetoric. However, the social commentary perhaps doesn't quite cut deep enough.
Jojo Rabbit works best as a delightfully off-beat coming-of-age story, less effectively as satire. It's a great story, Jojo's adorable reluctant adolescent crush on his new housemate and his love for his progressive free-thinking mother drive him away from fascism. However, it may be slightly naive to suggest love will always conquer ignorance and senseless hatred. The sentiment is more difficult to accept when the film doesn't afford nearly as much character depth to the mindless adult sycophants surrounding Jojo. The one exception comes in the form of the jaded Captain Klenzendorf, so disillusioned with the war that he seems to have retained his moral compass in a slightly vague way.
The decidedly grimmer, more dramatic, less comedic second half of Jojo Rabbit is significantly stronger. Waititi's talent for ramping up emotionally resonant moments after establishing his characters through comedy bolsters the impact of the picture's most heartbreaking scenes, elevating the film and imbuing it with a unique tone. Jojo's maturation into a conscientious person is accelerated by tragedy, and his struggle to be less selfish and more empathetic is the most authentic aspect of the narrative.
As Jojo, Roman Griffin Davis is extraordinarily impressive, showing genuine spirit in the role while keeping pace with Waititi's wacky Adolf and playing exceptionally well against Scarlett Johansson who turns in a radiant and delightful performance as Jojo's headstrong and ever-optimistic mother Rosie. While Waititi's Adolf represents the proverbial devil on Jojo's shoulders - one that feasts on unicorn - Johansson's Rosie is very much the angel at war with their dangerous influences that are poisoning her son's world view. Thomasin McKenzie exudes a weariness beyond her years as the tough and feisty Elsa. Sam Rockwell stands out as the weary Klenzendorf, some of his more amusing scenes hint at an off-screen romance between the captain and his second-in-command Finkel played by a gleeful Alfie Allen. The film also features hilarious performances from Rebel Wilson as blunt Hitler Youth instructor Fräulein Rahm and Stephen Merchant jovial Gestapo Agent Deertz while Archie Yates steals every one of his scenes as Jojo's innocent best friend Yorki.
Jojo Rabbit is a sweet and moving film even if its central premise of pure love being the key to weather hate and ignorance is generally over-simplistic. While its sense of satirical humor is a little too precious, the picture is at its strongest during its tensest and most emotionally powerful moments, presenting a heartfelt story about children growing up in troubling times.
FRAGMENTS
- The film is adapted from Christine Leunens's 2004 novel Caging Skies
- Scarlett Johansson also appears in 2020 Best Picture Nominee Marriage Story, nominated for Best Actress for her performance in that film
MCU CONNECTIONS
- Scarlett Johansson (Natasha Romanoff in Iron Man 2, The Avengers, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, Captain Marvel, Avengers: Endgame, and Black Widow)
- Sam Rockwell (Justin Hammer in Iron Man 2)
- Taika Waititi (Korg in Thor: Ragnarok, Avengers: Endgame, and Thor: Love and Thunder)
