Review of Jojo Rabbit (2019) by The3Academysins — 31 Oct 2019

The latest offering from Taika Waititi is thought provoking, hilarious, and heart-breaking. This movie has such a strong, compelling, artistic vision that it never wavers from. This is a movie with heart, and we need movies with heart now more than ever.

Without going into any spoiler territory, the best way I can describe the vision of Jojo Rabbit is this: Imagine if Wes Anderson directed a mashup of Thor Ragnarok and The Boy In the Striped Pajamas. It's sound absolutely crazy, but Waititi manages to pull it off with exceptional grace. The soundtrack, which is loaded with Beatles songs and David Bowie anthems, is a leaf right out of Wes Anderson's book. Also inspired by Wes Anderson is Waititi's shot composition of incredibly symmetrical images, visual metaphors and foreshadowing, and a vibrant pastel color palette. The humor and character development in the film is classic Waititi. Waititi himself plays a well thought out caricature of Hitler who always gives terrible advice, and is struggling to mask the evil that hides beneath the surface. Thomasin MacKenzie is absolutely brilliant, as is our main character, Jojo, played by Roman Griffin Davis. Sam Rockwell is surprisingly touching as a sympathetic Nazi. Scarlett Johansson's performance will not leave a dry eye in the house. Other performances of note are Stephen Merchant's terrifyingly hilarious take on a Gestapo officer, and Archie Yates as Yorki, Jojo's happy go lucky best friend.

While billed as a comedy, this movie is definitely a drama. There is no doubt about that. The film doesn't shy away from the horrors of WWII, and when the emotional punches start coming, they just don't stop. A lot like the real WWII, things get way worse before they get better.

There wasn't a whole lot I didn't like about Jojo Rabbit. Occasionally, some moments drag out a little too long. Also, the very last shot of the movie is a little unnecessary. However, Jojo Rabbit is a beautiful, emotional rollercoaster of a film. It asks daring questions about the human soul, and it does provide some good laughs. Definitely check this one out.