Jojo Rabbit

"An anti-hate satire."

Comedy Oct 18, 2019 1h 48m PG-13 English

Director: Taika Waititi

Cast: Roman Griffin Davis, Thomasin McKenzie, Taika Waititi, Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell

4.5/5

IMDB 7.9

Synopsis

A young boy in Hitler's army finds out his mother is hiding a Jewish girl in their home. Aided only by his idiotic imaginary friend Adolf Hitler, the boy must confront his blind nationalism.

Our Review

Taika Waititi's anti-hate satire shouldn't work - a comedy with Adolf Hitler as the imaginary friend of a lonely Nazi youth - but it does, and brilliantly. The film balances absurd humor with genuine emotional weight.

Tonal Tightrope

Waititi plays Hitler himself as an imaginary friend who's more childish buffoon than genocidal dictator. This allows the film to mock Nazi ideology while taking seriously the indoctrination of children. It's a delicate balance that the film mostly navigates successfully.

Roman Griffin Davis is a revelation as Jojo. Scarlett Johansson earned an Oscar nomination as his mother, and the dance scene gains new meaning on rewatch. Sam Rockwell steals scenes as Captain K.