Review of Jojo Rabbit (2019) by Compi24 — 12 Nov 2019

"Jojo Rabbit" finds writer/director Taika Waititi performing the kind of high-wire act that'd give nightmares to even the likes of an Aronofsky or Tarantino. A satirical period dramedy set against the backdrop of WWII/The Holocaust, the film follows a member of the Hitler Youth coming to terms with the fact that his mother is hiding a Jewish girl in the walls of their house.

Oh, and the boy's imaginary friend is a version of Adolf Hitler, played by the writer/director himself. Forget "high-wire act." For some filmmakers, this project would be like playing "the floor is lava" in a cornfield.

In any event, not only has Waititi delivered the potentially scandalous material in a palatable manner, he even manages to make it feel safe, which I suppose is for the best. Much like the titular protagonist, "Jojo Rabbit" itself is a film with a good heart nestled beneath all the red flags (no pun intended) and sensitive content, featuring an affecting narrative told by a dynamic filmmaker with a unique voice.

In that, it's an especially above average watch, and one that I can't say I'll soon forget.