A One Mann’s Movies review of “Jojo Rabbit” (2020).
Bob the Movie Man’s Rating:
Certification:
US: PG-13. UK: 12.
So, I’m a bit behind the beat on this one… missed all the preview showings and only just caught “Jojo Rabbit” in a “war double bill” at the weekend with the excellent “1917“.
Taika Waititi’s much discussed movie is an odd beast.
The plot.
Set in a small German town towards the end of the war, Jojo (Roman Griffith Davis), is a young boy indoctrinated with Nazi fervour as a member of the Hitler youth. Together with his rotund and bespectacled friend Yorki (Archie Yates), they are not likely to spread fear into the approaching Allied forces: they are a pair that would be likely to get picked last for ‘sides’ in a school football match.
No-hopers go to war. Jojo gets help from best friend Yorki. (Source: 20th Century Fox Film Corporation).
Perhaps to bolster his flagging self-esteem, Jojo has an imaginary friend – – Adolf Hitler (played by director Taika Waititi). Hitler provides him with sage – and sometimes foolish – advice. His mother (Scarlett Johansson), as well as obviously being hot and thus obtaining lustful looks from returning troops, is also kindly. She makes up for the absence of Jojo’s father, due to the war, with the help of some play-acting and a sooty beard.
But, when alone in the house, Jojo hears noises from upstairs, his world – and his whole belief system – begins to unravel.
Fun in the woods – Taika Waititi, Roman Griffith Davis and (partially hidden) Sam Rockwell. (Source: 20th Century Fox Film Corporation).
Jojo Rabbit delivers comedy on the edge.
Comedies have tip-toed around the sensibilities of World War II in the past, most famously with Mel Brook’s “The Producers”. I don’t think anyone’s previously been brave enough to introduce the holocaust into the comedy mix. And – to a degree… we are NOT talking excessive bad taste here – the movie goes there. There’s an underlying sharpness to some of the dialogue that – despite not being Jewish myself – nevertheless put my sensibilities on edge: the “pit in hell set aside for Jews” for example, is filled with not only “piranhas… but also bacon bits”.
As a satire lampooning anti-Semitism, much of the comedy is slapstick and the anti-Jewish sentiments expressed are deliberately ludicrous. And it’s one of my issues I guess with the film. There are some good lines (Rebel Wilson’s fanatical Nazi screaming “Let’s burn some books” at the students) but some of the slapstick farce just didn’t work for me. Sam Rockwell is great as a one-eyed ex-war hero looking for new challenges and exuberant costumes! But a lame gag from him about German Shepherds made me go “What? Really?”. And this lessens the impact for me of the satire.
Ruthless Nazi and Swiss miss. Sam Rockwell and Scarlett Johansson in a tense identification. (Source: 20th Century Fox Film Corporation).
Genuine Shock.
The second half of the film for me was far better, taking a much darker and edgier tone. There’s a sudden turn in the film – brilliantly executed – that is truly shocking. This scene is somewhat reminiscent of one in that other great Holocaust comedy, “Schindler’s List”. It’s understated, yet devastating. (Now, before seeing the film I’d heard from other reviews that the film “turned darker” and – based on the trailer – I’d kind of set in my mind what that would be. But I was wrong! So take this comment not as a spoiler, but as an anti-spoiler!).
As the war unravels for Germany, a late re-appearance by the imaginary Hitler is also memorable.
Stephen Merchant doing the usual Stephen Merchant act (very amusingly) as the Gestapo officer. (Source: 20th Century Fox Film Corporation)
Roman Griffith Davis is great… but not that great!
As the young star, Welsh kid Roman Griffith Davis – with no previous acting experience – turns in a star performance. Though to say that the performance ranks alongside the top 5 male performances of 2019 is, I think, overstepping the mark. I found it fun and quirky to see his Golden Globes nomination, but – although I’d always love to promote British talent to the US stage – I’m glad that sentimentality didn’t push this into an Oscar nomination, given the very strong field this year.
No such problem for Scarlett Johansson, who got a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her role. And I think this is deserved (although Laura Dern and Florence Pugh would be my personal choices ahead of Johansson for this one… I’d really love to see Pugh win for “Little Women”).
Elsewhere in the cast, few seemed to have recognized Thomasin McKenzie’s role playing Elsa. The 19 year-old New Zealander really delivered for me. A strong female character, she’s vulnerable yet with a will of iron under the surface. She made me really care about the outcome of the story.
A new take on Harry Potter. Thomasin McKenzie in a memorable breakout role.
Less positive for me is Rebel Wilson. I’ve got to the point – such is my annoyance quotient with her – where I’ll almost deliberately not go and see a movie she’s in. This may be a very personal thing – and I’m sure she is a lovely person and kind to animals – but on screen she just sets my teeth on edge. Here she is marginally less annoying in that she’s playing a deliberately annoying and unhinged character. But the role seemed largely redundant to me: it didn’t add anything to the overall story (unlike Rockwell’s – surprising – character arc).
One of the year’s more interesting films.
If there was an Oscar for originality – and that WOULD be a good new award category – then this film would be a contender. It’s certainly novel: amusing in places; disturbing in others. If you like your comedies on the edge and bit whacky – like “Death of Stalin” – then you will probably enjoy this. I’m not sure it’s the best film of the year – and there are probably others I would swap into that Oscars nomination list – but it’s still a well-made movie and a recommended watch.
Trailer for Jojo Rabbit:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tL4McUzXfFI.
Agree with your rating Bob. Although us Kiwis are a bit biased on this one (of course), I go to the movies to be entertained, and we certainly were with Jojo Rabbit – hilarious in parts, thought provoking in others.
Also agree Thomasin McKenzie has been rather overlooked in the reviews and certainly one to watch in future. MikeF
Thanks Mike. Quite agree.
Here’s our review! And we roast Bob’s “German Shepherd” comment at the end! https://youtu.be/oEPKFFwQym0
Haven’t had time to review your comments, but I’m sure they’re fair…. NOT! 🙂