Everything Cinema

Director Taika Watiti has been making independent comedies for a while now.
However, with JoJo Rabbit he’s achieved mainstream success (forget that Thor movie).
JoJo Rabbit follows JoJo Betzler, a 10 year old boy living in Germany who’s a Nazi which in reality is just his fascination with Swastikas and Hitler.
He gets his nickname JoJo Rabbit because he was unable to kill a rabbit when he was asked to.
He’s a good hearted kid, as evident from the above scenario. However he still idolises Hitler and wants to become one of his personal guards.
Things change when he finds a Jewish girl in his house hiding from the Nazis with the help of his mother played by Scarlett Johansson in of her best performances.
JoJo finds himself confused. He does not know whether to turn her in or save her. His mind and his heart tell him to go opposite directions. He has an imaginary friend – Adolf Hitler played by Taika Watiti himself which you can call an embodiment of his fascination with Hitler. He appears to give advice to JoJo on several occasions when he is puzzled and also providing the much needed comic relief to the film.
In the process, JoJo realises the error of his ways and the Nazis and starting to believe in the equality of all human beings, something that his mother firmly believes in and tries to teach him.
His interactions with the Jewish girl which eventually turns into friendship (or even love, though the girl is older) are the highlights of the film apart from the scenes between JoJo and his mother.
Let’s not get too much in the plot and see other aspects of the film.
Taika Watiti as always brings his trademark and his unique humour to the film both as an actor and director.
Roman Griffin Davis as JoJo is brilliant.
His performance is on the level you wouldn’t expect a 12 year old to be. His Golden Globe nomination was well deserved. He reminds me of a young Leo in the early 90s.
The characters speak in a German accent which is also fun to watch.
Sam Rockwell also delivers a great performances as Captain Klenzendorf who plays a huge part in JoJo’s life and also providing several comic instances.
Scarlett Johansson is also phenomenal in her role. She truly steps out of her comfort zone. Although, talking too much about her character will end up in me giving spoilers.
Thomas Mackenzie is also wonderful in her part as the Jewish girl. She is definitely one of the best things about the film.
Taika Watiti’s direction is clever like introducing plot devices at the beginning and using them at the end.
Although the movie is not without its faults.
Some of the characters appear in the movie just for plot conveniences without having any significance of their own despite having a small amount of screen time.
Alfie Allen, as Finkel has very little dialogue in the film and is not very effective in his comedy either. There could’ve been some depth to his character or well better dialogue.
Supporting characters must be given importance too.
Rebel Wilson as Fraulein Rahm is effective in her comic scenes but that is all she has and only in a small amount.
Stephen Merchant appears as Captain Deertz and manages to leave his mark despite appearing only for a few minutes.
The movie has some great memorable dialogues and it’s portrayal of Germany is somewhat exaggerated but still works because the film is a comedy drama.

A highly recommended movie.
If not anything, then watch it for Taika Watiti’s humour and incredible performances by Roman Griffin Davis and Thomas Mackenzie.

Scarlett Johansson was nominated for an Oscar for her role in this movie. Although, I found her performance in Marriage Story to be much better.
But then again, who cares about the Oscars anymore.

7.5/10