"Jojo Rabbit" is inarguably the most audacious film that I have seen of 2019.
Contrary to what some talentless hacks would have the general public believe about the viability of comedy that challenges perceptions and pushes the boundaries of taste, I do believe that an American coming of age satire filtered through the lens of a patriotic German boy finding his first crush in the form of a Jew during the final days of World War II with an exaggerated version of Hitler as his imaginary friend would have been a hard sell no matter when it was made.
That it exists in today's political climate is certainly a rarity but that it's legitimately great is nothing shy of an absolute miracle.
In addition to starring as the aforementioned monster of human history as the imaginary friend of the young, excitable, and impressionable Johannes "Jojo" Betzler, director Taika Waititi lends his talent for using the irreverence of comedy to shine a light on the human condition to provide perspectives we've never before considered to a film that takes a look at the factors that drive the impressionable into the arms of monsters.
That's not to say that all of "Jojo Rabbit" works from start to finish; it has a fair amount of comedic moments that fall flat, not excluding some of Waititi's antics as the fuhrer himself which can be a little bit on the nose, and some of the satire does skew a bit too subtle to the point that I can't particularly blame a viewer for coming out of the film at least a little bit too unnerved, at least if you wanted to boil the movie's entirety down to its second act alone.
More of it works than not however. The coming of age satire works as a study of how Nazi culture is allowed to fester like a disease without excusing the horrid actions carried out by them and the humanity brought in by the cast ties the story together in one of the most throught provoking and emotionally warm features I've seen in quite some time.
Roman Griffin Davis's debut as Jojo is an acting debut for the ages and I can't wait to see what this kid does with his career. His chemistry with world wearied but hopeful Thomasin McKenzie as jewish girl Elsa and his optimistic and ironically open minded best friend played by Archie Yates really hammer home the tragedy of how Nazi culture corrupts childhood.
The stand out performances however, come from Sam Rockwell and Scarlett Johansson, giving some of the best performances of their careers as people coping with a system that they know is wrong in very different ways but ultimately fighting to do what's necessary to protect the children siad system threatens to ruin.
"Jojo Rabbit" won't be everybody's cup of tea, if not for its polarizing subject matter, than simply for the bizarre actualization of its very concept. Whether you're comfortable with its topical discussion and social commentary or not however, I dare you to find many more movies this year with more heart and sharp wit in tandem with such a unique vision than what this movie provides.
8 Dead Nazis out of 10
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