Review of Jojo Rabbit (2019) by Brent_Marchant — 27 Oct 2019

When a 10-year-old misfit seeks acceptance by becoming a Hitler youth commando, he believes he's found his calling, despite his difficulty fitting in, a challenge that becomes more daunting when he learns that his mother is hiding a Jewish teenager to protect her from capture by the Nazis.

Writer-director Taika Waititi takes quite a chance with this comical coming of age story, walking a fine line between evoking laughs while addressing serious subjects, a mix that hits some notes and misses others.

The picture's best assets -- its strong start and finish, an excellent Wes Anderson-esque production design, and excellent performances by Roman Griffin Davis as the befuddled youth and Waititi as an imaginary friend version of the Fuhrer -- unfortunately are undercut by a drawn-out, meandering middle that stymies the picture's momentum and detracts from its strengths.

A valiant effort that comes close but doesn't quite nail the bull's-eye.