Hot off the heels of the huge hit Thor: Ragnarok (2017) among other smaller hits such as What We Do In The Shadows (2014), Taika Waititi scales back down to deliver a film filled bursting with charm and equal parts comedy, no easy feat when your film revolves around one of the darkest periods in history.

Set during the final days of World War II, as the impending loss for Nazi Germany begins to become a reality, we follow Johannes “Jojo” Betzler (Roman Griffin Davis), a Nazi fanatic who dreams of nothing more than to join the ranks of Adolf Hitler’s personal guard. JoJo’s fanatic tendencies have gotten so out of control that he has constructed his own imaginary best friend, the Führer himself played by the director Taika Waititi. After discovering that his mother Rosie (Scarlett Johansson) is hiding a young Jewish girl within the home, JoJo decides to grasp the opportunity to learn more about his supposed arch enemy, forcing himself to face the realities of his ideological beliefs.

Unsurprisingly, JoJo Rabbit has become one of the most divisive films of the year. After winning the top price at Sundance, the film has gained as many fans as it has critics due to the film’s decision to portray the Nazi regime as blundering idiots, with this being no more apparent in how Hitler is portrayed by Waititi. Despite what the film’s marketing may lead you to think, Hitler’s appearances in the picture are surprisingly short and limited in quantity. Just as you find yourself getting over the novelty of an idiotic Hitler jumping and flailing his arms around, the narrative quickly shifts into the far more engaging elements of the film, that being JoJo and his relationships with those around him.

Waititi seems to have a real talent for scouting out young gifted performers, even from his early shorts Two Cars, One Night (2004) the director has always managed to ensure his child actors deliver solid comedic performances. Roman Griffin Davis’ performance as the titular lead is nothing short of incredible, he nails every single comedic and dramatic beat that the he is presented with, nailing the innocent yet confused child that the narrative demands of him. It seems Scarlett Johansson can do no wrong this year, as once again she delivers an incredible performance as JoJo’s mother while being the crux of the film’s more emotionally impactful moments.

The movie does take a while to find its feet, many have compared it to Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom (2012), with the opening scenes feeling almost like a straight up homage to the film. The opening scenes are the weakest points, especially when you think back upon the film’s conclusion, they seem like they came from an entirely different production being more focussed on the audacity of the Hitler as a best friend idea, causing the first act or so to feel a tad confused with itself. Yet when Waititi finds his own style and way of telling the story, the film soars to incredible heights, with one incredible visual motif used to create one of the most impactful moments from a film in recent years.

JoJo Rabbit may not appeal to all who watch, but for those who are fans of Waititi’s previous work, they will find a wonderful crowd pleaser that will leave you wanting more, and one that I cannot wait to see again.

Director: Taika Waititi
Writers: Taika Waititi (screenplay), Christine Leunens (novel)
Stars: Roman Griffin Davis, Thomasin McKenzie, Scarlett Johansson
Kyle Gaffney
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