Frankly, I didn’t know WHAT to expect…But knowing that JOJO RABBIT won this year’s People’s Choice award at the Toronto International Film Festival certainly roused my curiosity. So I attended the screening, while keeping an open mind.
The film’s opening sequence certainly hints of quirky things ahead.
Here we are in a small German burg near the end of WWII where the locals are still Heil-Hitlering.
And while that’s all pretty comically portrayed, the soundtrack blares out the Beatles GERMAN-language version of ‘I Want To Hold Your Hand.’
Is this Springtime For Hitler, meets Anne Frank, or what? Not really, but permit me to explain.
Young 10 year old JJ is a proud member of the Hitler youth program. He’s lost his father and misses him terribly, and now creates an IMAGINARY friend. A replacement father figure—namely Adolf Hitler.
JJ has a loving mother played by Scarlett Johansson. But things get testy when our junior Nazi discovers that she is hiding a Jewish girl in the attic!
What’s JOJO to do, and what if Adolf finds out?
I’ve touched on a few elements of the absurdity represented in this movie. It’s from (cult) director Taika Waititi—and moviegoers shouldn’t expect anything less from him.Does he hit the mark here and make a point? Absolutely.
That said, pity the uninformed moviegoer who wanders unexpectedly into a theater and is confronted by this (slightly?) unbalanced satire.
Young Roman Griffin Davis shines as JJ. And Rebel Wilson along with Sam Rockwell definitely add to the proceedings.
So is JOJO RABBIT for YOU?
That depends on your acceptance level of illusion and verboten political correctness.
JOJO RABBIT opens in limited engagements.
Grade: B
