Alternating between bitter poignance and flippant hilarity, Jojo Rabbit thrives as an emotional rollercoaster. Gravely serious situations are often cut with a well-timed, stress-melting laugh. Light moments of childish infatuation take a sudden swerve into existential turmoil. That's a hallmark of director Taika Waititi, who explored similarly polarizing contrasts in Hunt for the Wilderpeople, and, as it turns out, it's also the essence of childhood during wartime.
Here we spend time with a ten-year-old German boy (passionately interested in the fading Third Reich), his troubled but deeply caring mother, the comically inept Nazis left to supervise their small town, and the sarcastic Jewish girl secreted away in their attic. Largely due to circumstance, the kids deal with some very adult subjects, trying everything to convince their peers to take them seriously. It doesn't work, of course, and that leads to some of the richest comedy, so they redouble their efforts. It's only in the very last scene, with the shadow of impending invasion finally past, that the specter of assumed adulthood is released and we finally catch a glimpse of these children acting their age. I wasn't sure the film would actually come together until that perfect moment, but what rich rewards for a thoroughly up-and-down journey.
Whimsical but honest, colorful but draining, it's both wonderful and terrible, often at the same time. My spine was shivering as it cut to the credits.
I think Jojo Rabbit finally makes me avoid the usual, "was fine" and say outright that I didn't like this. There was one funny moment in this pretty mediocre satire (?), not even challenging , with a forced script that shows its seams.
This movie's so wonderful. The way Taika chose to tell a story that's been told in a thousand different ways and still offer such an unique take speaks so much for who he is as a filmmaker. This movie's in the details, and every character feels like an irreplaceable piece in the puzzle. You'll feel every emotion. Perfect!
This was a great take on a dark past, bringing comedy and satire to the forefront, and I absolutely loved it! While being comedic, there are many emotional parts to the film, which I was rather surprised to see. One moment you're laughing hard, the next you're on the edge of balling your eyes out. I never would have expected to see a film quite like this done on Nazi Germany, it was very well made.
With this being Roman's first-ever professional acting job, I was incredibly impressed - he is awesome, and I certainly look forward to his next project(s). He was able to capture the rollercoaster of emotions, thoughts and feelings that may be going through a child growing up in Nazi Germany—who is being told who is okay and who is not—with ease. Taika never fails to please me with his work, and Stephen is a very funny actor. The way that Hitler was mocked through Taika really adds into the thought that not everyone is as strong as they are said to be. Thomasin brings in lots of emotion, and Roman just blows the film out of the park.
Seeing it for my 7th time, I think I'd probably upgrade this from one of the best films of 2019 to one of the best films of the decade.
I shall certainly be seeing this several more times, and I definitely recommend it.
This is one of the sweetest, satire and dark humorous movies I've seen in a while. Taika Waititi as Hitler really a big F!?K you to him. Scarjo really surprised me in this movie she showed me a unique character that was actually a joy to watch on the big screen. I would definitely watch again.
You're not a Nazi, Jojo. You're a ten-year-old kid who likes dressing up in a funny uniform and wants to be part of a club.
'Just keep going'
Movie of the year for me.
'it's a bad time to be a Nazi now'.
This movie is a horror story draped in a 'comedy'.
Needed this for the weird times we Live in.
[8.9/10] War corrupts. Hateful ideology corrupts. And despite that, goodness persists. That is, perhaps, a tough idea to hold in one’s head these days, in which it feels like the world is constantly on fire literally and figuratively.
Jojo Rabbit is about that corruption and how propaganda and societal norms twist the minds of young boys even in the shadow of the horrifying and the ridiculous. But it’s also about the goodness that peaks through all of that, the heart and care and humanity that cannot be staunched by hate alone, no matter how prevalent or prominent it may be.
It’s also an absurd, ballsy, heartfelt comedy. It takes plenty of, well, chutzpah to try to wring laughs from the story of a ten-year-old member of the Hitler Youth whose imaginary friend is der fuhrer himself, but writer-director Taika Waititi zeroes in on both the sweet and the silly of that setup in a way that is nigh-miraculous. His film is a peculiar cross between Life Is Beautiful and Moonrise Kingdom, channeling the goofiness mixed with poignance of the former, with the coming-of-age tweeness of the latter.
Part of that comes from the Wes Anderson-esque approach to the look and tone of the film. Jojo Rabbit sports bright primary colors, mundane or outsized activities scored to sixties hits (albeit in German), and a particular brand of restrained yet exaggerated cuteness to nearly everything that makes the movie charming and approachable despite its Third Reich setting. Anderson would be proud of the way Waititi roots all of this in a child’s perspective, heightening the ridiculousness, the terror, and the horror of these events by depicting them through the eyes of a ten-year-old.
Part of it comes from the bonds of loved ones and the kindness of strangers that sees a young man through that horror. Jojo Rabbit is founded on the title characters relationships with those around him, which change and affect him. His mother, Rosie, playfully ribs her son and tries to rid him of his caricatured Nazi views. Elsa, a young Jewish girl Jojo’s mom hides in the walls of their home, verbally (and occasionally physically) scraps with the boy about his antisemitic views. Captain Klenzendorf, the local, outsized military leader du jour, goes out of his way to look after Jojo when he doesn't have to. And Yorki, the Milhouse to Jojo’s Bart, hugs and encourages his pal through thick and thin.
Oh yeah, and then there’s Hitler! One of the best things about Jojo Rabbit is the way it invokes a Mel Brooks-esque level of bumbling absurdity for the Nazis. Waititi himself plays “Adolf” as, appropriately for his mustache, as a nutty combination of the fuhrer mixed with Charlie Chaplin. There’s a flounciness to Waiti’s take on Hitler, one that feels both subversive but also just straight up funny, when one of history’s greatest monsters is reduced to the exaggerated, swim-class attending, unicorn-eating imaginary friend of a ten-year-old boy.
At the same time, the film depicts the local Nazi leaders and functionaries as largely a pack of buffooons. That too feels transgressive and Brooksian, declaring victory over your aggressors by reducing them to objects of goofy derision. The absurdity of their cartoonish beliefs about Jews and Russians and “anyone who doesn't look like you” serves the eminently laugh-worthy satire, but also to expose the absurdity of those beliefs that underlies their perniciousness.
That is the root of the film -- an effort to point out how contrary to sense those ideas are, how dangerous they remain nonetheless, and how our shared humanity can still survive them. As much as the show wants to point out how amusingly insane it is that these nudniks are still running around, spewing “Heil Hitler”s like they’re blowing bubbles, and preparing for a future that their declining fortunes say will never come, it also wants to get real with it. The shift from comedy and tragedy makes both more potent, especially since Waititi never completely loosens his grasp on one or the other.
As amusing as it is to see Jojo given the business by his mother or his budding friend, it’s downright terrifying when the ever-heiling gestapo comes to his house in search of agitators. The doesn't let the audience forget the stakes or the tension. It’s heart-rending when Jojo sees a particular pair of shoes dangling in the air, a reminder that all this public bloviating for a dying would-be empire is not costless. The sacrifice of a man in a silly costume hits home when he strips Jojo of his. Jojo Rabbit spends much of its runtime setting up the outsized world its characters occupy, and then lets the bitter reality seep in to greater effect.
That comes through when the cinematography shifts from an Anderson-like sense of a lovely diorama to a sad, senseless depiction of war. Images of children, pensioners, civilians, tossed into this futile fight that turns their beautiful city to dust conveys that sense of corruption behind all of this. This isn’t just the joke of a group of duplicitous buffoons; it’s something that gets regular, good people killed, and killed for no reason.
Despite that, Jojo Rabbit is a strangely hopeful movie. Much of that comes from the talent and warmth of the performances. Scarlett Johanssen gives one of her most mannered and even quirky performances ever, and it’s delightful and chock full of heart and whimsy at every turn. Sam Rockwell sells the out there nature of his demoted Nazi captain, but also knows how to turn on the quietly moving realness beneath it when it’s called for. And in Roman Griffin Davis, Thomasin McKenzie, and Archie Yates, Waititi and casting directors Des Hamilton and Maya Kvetny found a remarkable trio of child actors, who can carry the humor and emotional weight of each scene at a level beyond their years.
That’s important, because the deepest rot Jojo Rabbit worries about is the one in the soul of a ten-year-old boy. It posits that this type of cancerous growth can be overcome, swept away, through love and through a realization of humanity in personal interactions that belie the stereotypes and horror stories traded as currency. Jojo misses his father, and so replaces him with the man who put the “fuhrer” in fatherland. It’s a debilitating influence that threatens to stifle an inherent goodness within the young boy.
But the movie suggests that goodness cannot be stamped out so easily. Jojo refuses to kill an innocent rabbit. He loves and needs his mother despite his natural prepubescent attempts at rebellion. And when confronted with a real live Jew, one who needs his help and protection and ultimately, his understanding, he cannot deny her humanity, or eventually his courtly love.
There is something noble, something tender, within Jojo that is fostered by the people in his life who come to love and care about him. It’s a spirit he carries on from his mother in any number of echoing scenes of tied shoe-laces. It’s an appreciation for the need for freedom, a desire to grow up and have your own life that Elsa and her preteen attacker-turned-protector realize in the joy of dancing. It’s an innate decency that Jojo tries to reject in himself but in the end, realizes means more to him that the armband he once so gleefully put on.
Therein lies the beauty of this film. It weakens the power of that hateful ideology by depicting it as the beliefs of bumbling fools, while acknowledging the insidious effect it has in the hearts and minds of decent townsfolk and a good little boy. And at the same time, it suggests that type of corruption can be overcome, that empathy can win out, and understanding and even love can emerge from the ashes of such unspeakable things. Anne Frank once wrote, “In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good.” With Jojo Rabbit, Taika Waititi seems to agree.
From its opening minutes, Jojo Rabbit held me in an embrace so tender I watched the whole thing with a lump in my throat, no matter how hard I was laughing.
How to put a smile on your face and a tear in your eye. Taika Waititi thumbs up from me.
"Waititi's satirical comedy manages to be one of the most thought-provoking and disarmingly tender films made on the subject."
I was expecting to laugh, not cry...
A great one from Taika Waititi with a strong script and also loved his role, definitely where most of the comedy came from. The film had me laughing at times then crying then back to laughing again.. and that's where the power comes from to give the film It's energy along with It's fantastic cast and effects...
A young German Johannes (Roman Griffin Davis) loves Hitler. So much that he imagines him as his imaginary friend (Taika Waititi). He’s naive to what being a Nazi really means and the lives it ruins.
Until he meets a Jewish girl and must decide if he wants to turn her in. Which is a dilemma because his mom (Scarlett Johansson) is the one hiding her in the attic.
Instantly the best movie I saw from 2019. It’s touching, funny, charming and well acted. Also occasionally takes darker turns than you don’t expect. Which does make sense after all. Jojo Rabbit is a film about Nazis.
What an absolute joy of a film. At different times it was hilarious, absurd, poignant and inspirational. While Scarlett Johansson was at her absolute best it is the young actors that absolutely stole the show. While watching the film I couldn't help but think that all of the themes that existed back then (bigotry, jingoism, hatred, etc) that we thought were gone never really left.
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The movie's quite heartfelt and funny , especially those few 'Heil Hitlers'. On a serious note to the critics, i don't think there's anything wrong with depicting Nazis in a comedic manner as long as we're laughing at them.
I'm glad I watched that....and I'm also glad its over..byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
It's hard to say how I feel about this film. The pacing is slow and it's at once extravagant and awkward and subtle. I often feel like I'm too old to get the jokes (and I'm not terribly old). At times the film feels like it's trapped in a bottle.
I was quite tempted to give up on it half way. Did I enjoy the film? Kind of. Did I laugh? Occasionally. Was I bored? Sometimes.
I persevered.
It was deep and honest and it moved me in a way few films can.
But I don't know if that was enough.
This was a really good movie about a boy who idolizes Hitler during the war until he realizes his mother is hiding a Jewish girl in their home. Great movie showing the trials and tribulations during this dangerous time. This movie is funny, heartwarming and sad all at the same time. Great performances by all. A great watch!
sorry tarantino, taika’s the only director that can give me chills by filming a woman’s feet
Taika Waititi's film "Jojo Rabbit" is a unique take on the story of a young boy whose imaginary friend is Hitler. The film manages to blend comedy and drama effectively, with Hitler's character providing comedic relief without being overly offensive. The film's young lead, Roman Griffin Davis, gives a strong performance, and Scarlett Johansson and Thomasin McKenzie also deliver solid performances as his mother and the Jewish girl hiding in their house. The relationship between Jojo and Elsa challenges the Nazi's view of Jewish people, and the film manages to balance humor with moments of humanity. Rebel Wilson and Sam Rockwell's performances as Nazi party members may be over-the-top, but they do not detract from the overall tone of the film. Overall, "Jojo Rabbit" is a heartwarming and emotional film with excellent performances.
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La película de Taika Waititi "Jojo Rabbit" es una versión única de la historia de un niño cuyo amigo imaginario es Hitler. La película logra mezclar la comedia y el drama de manera efectiva, con el personaje de Hitler brindando un alivio cómico sin ser demasiado ofensivo. El joven protagonista de la película, Roman Griffin Davis, ofrece una gran actuación, y Scarlett Johansson y Thomasin McKenzie también ofrecen sólidas actuaciones como su madre y la niña judía que se esconde en su casa. La relación entre Jojo y Elsa desafía la visión nazi del pueblo judío, y la película logra equilibrar el humor con momentos de humanidad. Las actuaciones de Rebel Wilson y Sam Rockwell como miembros del partido nazi pueden ser exageradas, pero no restan valor al tono general de la película. En general, "Jojo Rabbit" es una película conmovedora y emotiva con excelentes actuaciones.
Didn’t laugh once.
No idea why this is rated so highly. It’s just crap.
No further analysis needed.
3/10 at best.
I thought this was such a good movie, Scarlett was such a well picked role for this film as well. Elsa Core was amazing for it being close to her first film. Just overall such a fantastic movie
I hated this movie, not because of what it represents, but because the jokes were not funny at all, and the scenes that were supposed to be emotional didn't make sense because the characters were so bland and so I couldn't get attached to them at all.
Also, I loved Taika Waititi's scene in The Suicide Squad but he does a really terrible performance as Hitler. This movie tries too many times to be both serious and funny and I think that is why I couldn't enjoy it. I don't usually give a 1/10 to a movie, especially when it has such a good IMDb score, but this is the exception.
Also, it is very stupid that every time someone dares to post a negative review about this movie, they get attacked and downvoted to oblivion. Comedy is subjective, this is also why there are a lot of people who don't like movies like Monty Python and the Holy Grail. The fans of Jojo Rabbit kind of remind me of the toxic fanbase of Rick and Morty who will always tell you that if you don't understand the jokes, it's because you have a low IQ.
And, the thing is that I knew just 20 minutes in that I hated this movie but because of all the hype, I forced myself to finish it, and I never should have done that because it was a complete waste of time. From now on, if a movie doesn't hold my attention enough for the first 20-30 minutes, I'll just move onto the next one. I could have been watching way better stuff during that time instead of this garbage.
Weird and funny. Dark and truthful. Very interesting to dig into this Jojo's world.
I feel like I enjoyed this movie, but I wasn't that impressed by it. For a period piece to take a cheeky comedy stance is definitely a risk, but I found myself really having a hard time taking such subject matter in a light hearted manner. Not in a way to say it was offensive, but in a way that pulled me out of being completely engrossed by the story and characters. There was definitely some moments that packed quite an emotional impact, but those were the only times during the movie I felt invested. Otherwise, the whole thing was kind of an odd watch.
A unique combination of dark comedy and realism. Fantastic movie, everyone was unique, the soundtrack and scenery and the satire of the whole Nazi period was done so elegantly and very carefully. After his mom died, it took a very dark turn which i loved it. The ending was superb and Taika was excellent
First time watching it, and I can't find anything wrong with it. Incredibly touching, funny, tragic, and beautiful.
Probably the best movie I watched this year, definitely one of my faves.
Who would have thought anyone would be able to tastefully make a comedy about Nazis.
Let everything happen to you
Beauty and terror
Just keep going
No feeling is final.
This movie is neither funny, nor touching, nor an appropriate way to remind about the topic of the terror for those who had to hide during the Nazi times. I don’t even understand the :asterisk_symbol::asterisk_symbol:Why:asterisk_symbol::asterisk_symbol: of this movie. La vita é bella is the perfect counter example on how to approach this.
And if it’s supposed to be funny for children then it’s simply inappropriate.
It also gets ruined by the use of english. The most cringey joke was the small bit about the “german shepherds”. In German that dog species is just translated to “shepherd dog”
A Deeply Dark Comedy. It was a little hard to wrap my head around poking fun at the brutally Nazi regime, but, in this case, comedy is the ultimate disinfectant. Taika Waititi executes his twisted but incisive creation with brilliance. The casting is excellent. The performances are unforgettable. The tragedy is gut wrenching. Fully deserving of its award attention, I give this film a 9 (superb) out of 10. [Anti-hate satire]
Absolutely speechless. Without speech.
This was the darkest, craziest, sickest, most glorious and magnificent thing I've seen in ages.
Even the children's performances are completely outstanding and the whole thing just flows seamlessly between laughter and tears.
I will actively be looking for an excuse to watch this again.
A powerfull message sent with great directing,brilliant humor,nice acting and lovely cinematography.I think this movie has everything you need so you can fully enjoy it it's serious and hillarious in the same time it makes you laugh and it makes you think.8.3/10 don't miss this one :)
adorabile. everyone have to watch this movie.
The acting isn't always very good, and the scenario is pretty predictable at times, but I like the idea that the directors were able to make a comedy out of Nazi movement, that you can actually enjoy.
Interesting script. Roman and Scarlett are amazing in the scenes.
Wow, not even Rebel Wilson could make me rob this flick from a ten! Five minute of screen time is probably the right amount of her never-changing-character-no-matter-the-film I can take before her spirit completely takes over the movie. Bet she's a lovely person but I can't stand her "acting".
Besides that this is right up my valley with it's satire take on a dark and serious topic that's sadly never get old. Great performances of the cast, great choice of music, great photography, great directing and a truly great story. Love it!
Roman Griffin Davis and Taika Waititi were amazing! Unexpectedly, I got attached to Jojo and his naivety. Definitely did not expect to get emotional. Jojo Rabbit may have become one of my favorite movies on WW2.
Although it doesn't quite pull off its premise quite as handily as the film requires, I'd be shocked if anyone could do a better job at this than Waititi.
There's good laughs and genuine empathy created in a solid character arc. Waititi pulls good performances out of his ensemble. These kids were fantastic.
Taika Waititi is my favorite director, so I was really looking forward to this film, as I am with any of his movies. I have to say this one let me down a bit, but unfairly so. Before I saw the film I heard from people that it's the best film of the year to them, even better than Parasite (which I saw the other day and to me that became my number one of the year), so I was like oh man Jojo Rabbit is better than Parasite, what a great month to get 2 of the best films of the year. So I went in all hyped up. I did like the movie, it was funny in a way that only Taika is, but I was expecting something more, a gut punch, something to happen that made me think a different way. I still think it is a great movie, everyone should check it out if you like Taika's other movies.
The Anne Frank movie we all wanted
This is funny and unique. Not many people could get away with this but Taika Waitti's Hitler steals every scene he is in.
3 Thoughts After Watching ‘Jojo Rabbit’:
Simultaneously heartbreaking and beautiful. I’m in awe of this film. I did :asterisk_symbol:not:asterisk_symbol: expect it to go as dark as it did. Absolutely phenomenal work by Taika Waititi. Scarlett was fantastic as well.
The child actors did such an incredible job. Roman Griffin Davis (Jojo) and Archie Yates (Yorki) knocked it out of the park!
The tying of the shoes. Broke. My. Heart. Oh, but the dancing. We should all be dancing more.
Realy boring, one of the worst movies of this year
I was so looking forward to it and I’m glad to say it didn’t disappoint one bit. One of the best movies I’ve seen in a while. The third act had me bawling my eyes out till the end of the credit. So much heart and soul in this movie. Can’t recommend it enough.
a great take at a dark period in history. I grew up reading Calvin and Hobbs and the imaginary nature of Adolf Hitler to JoJo really reminded me of that .. (as well as drop dead Fred). Super emotional ride though. did not expect that. love love loved it!
This has to be one of the best movies of the decade. Taika Waititi 100% deserved his Oscar with this movie adaptation. The cast in this is phenomenal. Even if this is Roman's first professional acting job, he blew my mind. There is nothing bad I can say about this at all.
To make a satire out of one of the worlds worst tragedy is very bold. Never has anything like this been made or even rhought about. No one knew that we wound get a satire out of Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany. But we got it 80 years after the war. Taika did really do this good.
I will tell everyone to watch this cause it has some history in it at the same time as it is a comedy.
One of my favourite scenes are the "Heil Hitler" scenes they're so hilarious.
Some of the humour falls flat, but the film makes up for it with a surprising amount of heart and fantastic performances across the cast.
Clever, ironic, well played. Loved it!
"Your mother took me in. She's kind. She treats me like a person."
Taika Waititi is on a roll recently and rightfully so, because he's got a great comedic vision.
'Jojo Rabbit' is a World War II satire that's both hilarious and surprisingly tragic. Joy, terror, love, hate all in one movie. Waititi knows how far to take a joke and how humor can put on light on ugly issues. While absurd looking on the surface, but on a deeper look it's something unique.
Newcomers Roman Griffin Davis and Thomasin McKenzie take center stage upon the big cast. Their comedic timing, emotional range and overall performances are nothing short than impressive. Also Archie Yates is like the adorable child version of Nick Frost.
Speaking of big name stars. Scarlett Johansson is having a fantastic year and she once again delivers a wonderful performance. Sam Rockwell is amazing in pretty much anything he's in and here is no different. Rockwell playing a closeted homosexual Nazi is hysterical, and yet meaningful when you look at it more thoughtfully.
The weakest actor upon the cast has to be Rebel Wilson. I really didn't buy her as this character. I thought she's just doing her usual comedic traits like in every other movie, which I'm not a fan of.
Not only is Taika Waititi directing and writing, but also starring as Jojo's imaginary friend of his very own idol... Adolf Hitler. Apparently Waititi didn't have to research playing Hitler, because he thought Adolf was 'a f*ing c**'. Anywhere, the concept itself is really bizarre and really fascinating. While silly and entertaining, but could've been left out, in my opinion. There was a point where he completely disappears from the movie to later reappear during the finale.
At times I feel like it tries hard to be like a Wes Anderson movie, in terms of staging, quirky humor, and overall setting. Influence is one thing, but it came a point when it wasn't being it's own thing.
Overall rating: Criticisms aside, I had an absolute blast. Endearing and highly vocal. I'm glad a movie like this exist.
I'm not sure about this. It's kina funny but also potentially dangerous. The Nazis and especially the Holocaust are truly horrible and basically horrible beyond imagination. I'm fine with satire but I just hope that viewers won't think that this wasn't "that bad" (I've visited a concentration camp and found it absolutely horrifying - those places must've been hell on earth (it felt like the ones that were deemed unfit to work and got gassed right away were the "lucky" ones)).
Anyway, let's actually review this movie:
The intro was unexpected and kinda funny. The Rabbit scene was a bit more serious but burning Books and the "Don't do that" (fragging yourself - it's a wonder he survived btw) were kinda "entertaining".
I liked the scene where Rosie kicked that Captain in his balls - you better don't mess with her, I guess.
I was confused that Elsa kinda seemed to believe Jojo's fake letters from Nathan while she clearly should know better but the "He's dead. Nathan. He died last year (tuberculosis)." brutally but nicely revealed things in the end.
The Gestapo scene was kinda funny but would be totally horrifying.
I really loved that Captain Klenzendorf helped them, especially since I didn't expect that at all (and I'm still nor really sure why).
"You're 10 Jojo. Start acting like it!" - LOL :D
The death of his mother was brutal...
The ending revealed some other brutal things (child soldiers, the "give him [American] a hug" (with the grenade), etc.
Captain Klenzendorf became a Hero in the end - I shed some tears when he saved Jojo with the "get away Jew" (although the allies probably wouldn't have killed Jojo).
Jojo's final lie to Elsa was mean but I was also surprised that she bought it.
PS: Taika Waititi's actin was funny, as usual :)
PPS: Elsa's acting at the end reminded me a bit of Zendaya.
I was about to quit after the first minutes of the movie but decided to give it a second chance. It was a good decision. The movie is quite good and not as absurd and silly as the intro seems to suggest
Both somehow a hilarious yet very emotional movie that uses one of the darkest periods in history to tell the story. The plot progression also reveals so much not only about the characters but also what it was actually like during WWII.
I went in expecting an 8 out of 10 at best. Oh how wrong I was...
There was a good film exactly until the moment when the allies were shown and stupid propaganda began. Soviet soldiers send children into captivity and then shoot the prisoners, while American soldiers simply wave flags. And an interesting satire turned into a cesspool for me personally.
Jojo Rabbit came highly recommended to me and had garnered multiple positive reviews, but unfortunately, I found it to be a disappointing film that failed to capture my attention. The movie felt ridiculous and struggled to hold my interest throughout. Despite the praise it received, I couldn't connect with the film's premise and execution. The attempts at humor and satire felt forced and fell flat for me, resulting in a lack of engagement. It simply did not live up to the expectations set by the positive reviews I had read. While everyone's taste in movies differs, it was not a satisfying experience for me personally.
A story about blindly following fascism as a young, impressionable boy, but learning to love instead of hate.
The film carried a powerful message about some harrowing human history, with a handful of good laughs to boot. Perhaps a little strange though, as despite focusing on children, I was left staring at the end credits still unsure about what the film’s target audience was.
This film was a humorous but heart-aching coming-of-age story. I enjoyed the comedy and satirical approach toward issues of war and the influence of societal norms. Although I appreciated the humor in the film, I couldn't help but feel that it detracted from the emotional impact.
I liked the german shepard joke, everything else was silly while also not being funny.
A pastiche of totalitarism and hate speech in its perfect version. The lesson is also valid nowadays.
A hilarious piece of political satire that isn't afraid to be serious
Marketed as an "anti-hate satire", the film has no easy task – to use Nazism as the (mostly) humorous background to what is essentially a bildungsroman, without it seeming exploitative or dismissive of the real suffering endured by real people. And Taika Waititi manages this tricky balancing act exceptionally well. The satire and slapstick elements are as funny as anything in his filmography, and the film's more serious moments (of which there are several) arrive like an absolute gut-punch. This could have gone wrong in so many ways – if it wasn't funny, if the emotionality felt contrived, if the serious moments seemed manipulative, if the whole thing just came across as disrespectful and in bad taste – but Waititi navigates these dangerous waters magnificently. Jojo Rabbit is, in fact, that rarest of films – a comedy where the serious moments feel completely earned and a drama with something important to say where the comedy enhances the seriousness.
For my complete review, please visit: https://boxd.it/VZ2C7
Oh, I've seen so much Hitler and Nazism for a week that I want to do what Jojo did, just scream "Fuck off, Hitler!" and knock these guys out of the window. That was pretty badass, by the way. I really liked it, the first time I saw it was in literature class at school. Then I thought the teacher wanted to brainwash us with it. Maybe it wasn't as funny and interesting as when I first watched it, but still, very sweet and heartwarming, a bit strange to say about a Nazi movie that it's sweet.
Great, it’s amazing that it even exists in the first place. Really good satire with strong dramatic and heartwarming undertones; a tricky tonal balance that Waititi pulls off very well. Also a very relevant message about gaining emotional maturity and learning the complexities of the world, which is something that unfortunately still needs to be passed on to even a lot of adults. The actors all did a great job, everyone gives very likeable performances. Some are very cartoony (Rebel Wilson, Sam Rockwell, Taika himself), but it works in context. Visually Waititi seems to be pulling from Wes Anderson here. An obvious point of reference appears to be Moonrise Kingdom, but there is also a lot of dead center framing. It doesn’t quite have the storybook feel op Wes’ films, but it’s still very well shot (really like the look and feel of the city) and there are many memorable visual moments. I love the music and how it’s incorporated, especially during the scenes where Jojo and Scarlett Johansson are biking through the city. Most of the comedy is very well done, though there are a few minor misses for me. Its biggest problem is just how predictable it is. For as bold and risky as this is as a piece of cinema, the set-ups are a little too on the nose. You know exactly where every character is going to end up by the time the credits roll, and it does so without many surprises along the way. That’s really my only major flaw, though. Pretty easily recommended.
7.5/10
Not as amusing as I hoped, but certainly consumed my attention for the duration of its running time. If you consider that faint praise, I have succeeded in communicating my intentions.
One of the best World War II movies. It stands out for being satirical yet moving. All the cast is perfect fitted for this amazing script Taika Waititi created. Every scene is fantastical and it really must turn into a movie for all generations. One of my favorite movies ever.
I’m massively into swastikas
Entertaining at best, thanks entirely to Taika Waititi... nuff said!
beautiful, tragic and funny story.
Taika Waititi, thank you for this masterpiece.
To remain objective:
I can't even say whether I like this film or not. I don't understand its humor.
Jojo Rabbit finds a perfect balance between satire and drama. Served with bright color palettes and organic humor is a sad and humane story of love and hate. Especially loved how Taika's Hitler is a caricature one moment and almost too real in another.
"You and your friends may have heard a rumor that Hitler only has one ball. This is nonsense. He has four."
Another 2019 movie that kicked ass. It is always interesting to see the other side of war, and they were able to do it with comedy yet also give me chills. Jojo is a character that I will remember for a while, and so far Taika has yet to make a movie that I do not love!
Think of La Vita E' Bella, but with inverted roles
The protagonist kid is a Nazi.
Heartfelt, touching and funny in a right dose.
Majestic, an instant classic.
5/5 Panzer Tanks :clapper::clapper::clapper::clapper::clapper:
JoJo Rabbit. Yet another film the polarised the viewer from day one with a lot despising it’s treatment of the war in a comic vein with Hitler being shown as a laughable clown figure, whilst others enjoyed the comic-serious treatment of the indoctrination of people, particularly the young, into a reprehensible quasi-patriotic totalitarian way of thinking.
I was put in mind of Mel Brooks when watching Taika Waititi’s film. JoJo Rabbit holds up this flawed way of thinking, this obnoxious mindset and downright evil way of behaving and shows it in all its glorious, ridiculous stupidity, making jokes and having broad and silly characters throughout the story. Certainly, it never glorifies the movement that swept Germany, and appears to be sweeping the world now, and lampoons these idiots, but this soft side of silliness has a wicked and cruel razor’s edge below the surface. These people killed people, persecuted them for no reason and threw their own old and young into the meat grinder of war to save their philosophy, their warped fanaticism without a second thought, all hiding under a cloak or patriotism.
Personally, I think Taika Waititi just about gets the balance right. Hitler is a daft clown because it is not Hitler it is an enamoured 10-year-old child’s version of his ‘pal’ Hitler. So fun and silly. Even then this non-Hitler has a temper and believes that JoJo should follow his ideals to the bitter end, even as the façade cracks and warps due to JoJo’s experience of the world, and in particular his exposure to Elsa increases.
Clearly Scarlett Johansson’s mother figure, Rosie, is crow-barred in as an anti-Nazi counterbalance to JoJo’s character at the start and thus, to me, it feels like this, but taking the story’s arc overall this is forgivable. JoJo Rabbit is not a realisitic treatise on Nazism in Germany at the tail-end of the Second World War but I felt it was pointing its finger at the modern viewer.
Sam Rockwell pops up as a comedic and clearly gay officer Captain Klenzendorf who is demoted back the home-front because of war-wound that leaves him blind in one eye. He gives good value in a strange role. Although gay at no point is it made clear that he is not in some way a Nazi although his actions later in the film and at the very end give his character more shades of colour other than black and white. Due to Rockwell’s, typical Rockwell-style performance, I found him endearing. Obviously, Sam Rockwell is an endearing type of chap and he finds it hard to hide that in his characters.
Johansson puts in a good show as JoJo’s mother who carries huge burdens that will prove too much weight as the film goes on - impossibly glamorous she is the one person in the film who proves to be strong in both belief and action. Rather realistically and unpleasantly this leads to a development that perhaps you would not expect in a film of this type.
Thomasin McKenzie is impressive, again, as Elsa the Jewish girl who is being saved by Johansson and does a fine job of being a bit more than just the sympathetic victim role that some films who perhaps have slotted her into. She is without doubt a talent to be watched out for and if she stays on this path she will undoubtedly be a force to be reckoned with in the world of film.
Central to whole story is JoJo and his played with some aplomb it has to be said by Roman Griffin Davis. The casting for this had to be correct otherwise the whole story fails. The young man playing a difficult role carries if supremely well for a such a young person. Believable as a driven baby-Nazi who at his core is soft and emotional, everything he is not expected to be. It is all good.
A word has to be said for the scariest character in the film the big, usually goofy, Stephen Merchant, stooping through door frames, smiling a smile that has no warmth or humour as this film’s version of Herr Flick, Herr Deertz, except this one is actually horrifically, deadly and not just a comedy character.
Therein lies the rub, JoJo Rabbit is silly, a little horrific and deals with Nazism but the one constant throughout is no character is just slotted into a neatly marked pigeon-hole that some film-makers have fallen into.
The look of war-ravaged Germany is handled well and, on my ‘big TV’ at least, the colours were bright and vibrant rather than stolid greens, greys and blacks because it is a war film. The cinematography, effects and overall vision was very good.
The cod-accents are there – unlike some more serious films this does not detract for me, particularly Hitler with a Kiwi twang and it even adds the quirkiness of the presentation.
Jo-Jo Rabbit gave me a lot to think about. Indoctrination and whether there really is rehabilitation, toxic and poisonous patriotism and what it leads to and the utter pointlessness of war, any war. In the end it changes nothing, except for whether you are alive or dead, Nazis still proudly proclaiming their presence and beliefs in countries around the world and in more than a few they are embraced. What was the point?
I do not see this film as much as a satire on the Fascists during the early part of the 20th century but more a big, and at times silly, statement on that mindset. Nazism is the conduit, but it could equally be about any dogmatic belief or any group of fanatical people, Communists, religious zealots, the list is endless.
As such for me JoJo Rabbit worked, what happens if you follow that path is up on the screen, it is bright and at times fun but that serious undercurrent is there all the time. If nothing else who does not like to see the Gestapo Heil Hitlering themselves to arm paralysis?
Let everything happen to you
Beauty and terror
Just keep going
No feeling is final
So beautiful it hurts (;_;)
There was a lot of hype going into this and it was mostly on point. To start, the cast is all around great. I particularly enjoyed any time Sam Rockwell or Rebel Wilson were on screen. At its core, this was another take on the coming-of-age trope, but I'm always a sucker for these films, so didn't mind it a bit. There were some unexpected powerful moments that weren't afraid to touch on some very dark themes, which threw me, but also worked amazingly well. If you're worried, as I was, that this is yet another overrated buzz film, don't fret. It is totally worth a watch or two.
It was a good movie. Cute, but seriously not Oscar Best Picture of the Year worthy. No even sure why it even made the cut to be on the list. If you have the choice between it and the movie that won, Parasite, watch Parasite. If you are just looking for a feel good, strangely twisted moralistic child's view of Nazi Germany, welcome to JoJo Rabbit. Hansel and Gretel meets the Nazis.
Taika seems to have smashed together the production design and aesthetic of Wes Anderson with the sharp, clever humour of Edgar Wright, seasoned here and there with deep emotional scenes to create a perfect balance of comedy and drama in this controversial feature.
I personally want a still frame of Sam Rockwell in his super-fabulous military regalia framed on my wall.
Absolutely sublime, bring on the next Waititi production.
This movie is more suitable for babies. Adults can move along.
Honestly I was expecting to just laugh at some parody of those dark times. Now, I'm half laughing and half crying. I find this a rare gem of a movie, most likely because if you combine comedy and that dark regime, it would've been disastrously offensive to some. but this one did a real good job.
From it's opening sequence superimposing the music of The Beetles "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" with images of teenage Germans in the throes of Hitlermania, JoJo Rabbit pulls no punches in getting it's point across, and continues the lineage of using comedy to both examine and skewer serious and even dark subject matter going back to Chaplin's "The Great Dictator". The absurdity of the "cult of personality" that led Germans to fall under the spell of a clearly sociopathic yet charismatic leader and his minions is brought straight to the fore, as we experience the end stages of Nazi Germany as seen through the eyes of a lonely boy, his adoring Mother, a Jewish girl, and his imaginary friend, who, just happens to be Hitler himself.
Roman Griffin is perfectly cast as Jojo, as is his Mother, played by the inimitable Scarlett Johansson. Sam Rockwell, does his Sam Rockwell thing, spinning gold out of what would be straw to many other actors. Taika Waititi pulls off the impossible, bringing some heart and humor to arguably one of the most evil men in history, who in the end, if history is to be believed, took the cowards way out as his "1000 year Reich" crumbled around him.
The rest of the supporting cast also did a fine job, with kudos going to Archie Yates, JoJo's heroic "2nd best friend" unfortunately stuck in a fat kids body.
Hopefully, we can all be as inquisitive and resilient as JoJo, and, rather than simply going along with what the "powers that be" tell us to believe, search out the truth and make up our own minds. As the end card so poignantly reminds us:
“Let everything happen to you. Beauty and terror. Just keep going. No feeling is final.”
That Twilight reference was everything.
Wow. What a fascinating way to portray WWII. All the right levels of comedy and real. Love Taika Waititi but that kid in the lead role absolutely smashed it.
One of the best movies of 2019.
In the wrong hands, this could have been crass and offensive. In the hands of Waititi, however, it is raw, emotional, and hilariously funny. If only every film could be written and directed by him.
Emotional, warm, thought-provoking, funny
I'd say it's a great movie, but gets too serious at times but still great
funny and touchy, emotional performance by Scarlett
One of the best Nazi satire i have seen in a while. Taika Waititi as Hitler is absolutely stunning. Sam Rockwell and Archie Yates are outstanding!
I absolutely love this movie. Great cast (amazing performance from Davies), great set and a very interesting story. I loved this movie so much I bought the book which the story was adapted from (and won an Oscar in the process). I've seen it in theaters 3 times already and it's always an amazing experience
Funny, imaginative and touching. Taika Waititi managed to squeeze (and stir) so many feelings into one exquisitely crafted movie. Jojo Rabbit is so much more than a mere satire. Taika Waititi never disappoints, this is a movie that genuinely deserves all the praise it's been getting.
And wat about link to share
I had no idea what to expect from this movie. I kind of expected the worst but was pleasantly surprised. It turned out to be a funny, satirical and poignant. The reason i didn't rate this any higher is because I knew too many people from several sides of that war and it still feels uncomfortable to laugh and joke around about it.
A breath of fresh air! First of all, lately I've really been feeling in order for a movie to be considered a good movie it actually has to have something "good" about it...
I've been reviewing alot lately and am getting better at finding a films purpose.. (Or being totally turned off realizing there is no real purpose other than passing time... Ex: how they get themselves out of this random meaningless jam, who cares...)
A reason for the film to be made other than just collecting a paycheck and this is certainly a movie that needed to exist. Glad they didn't shy away from controversy to tell a story. No holes in the script, a very simple and non complex script to follow... So the storyline is free from fatal flaws, that checks out.
Next is the acting which is actually perfect, not a hair out of place. The child actor is a prodigy to be able to carry the lead role of this very serious (subject matter wise) movie. The sounds are very pleasant and music is perfect. Visually excellent, nothing missing visually. Everything about this movie was crisp, flowing, and smoothly executed. Wonderful directing. Looked like a fun movie to be a part of... Deep reaching into the soul, and mind as it moves the viewer to consider several different serious topics... And also presents a viewpoint of this Hitler youth era in a way that most ignore (as it reminds us that this was regular life for the Germans at the time..
Making the unbelievable society more believable)... Its really impressive for someone to have come up with this script and for the entire cast to form this presentation. I also loved the use of the imagination hitler, which is very cool and I could definitely see that unique imaginary person (inner thought) perspective being utilized in other films. I also love films that are presented in English while using tricks to let you know they are speaking a foreign language... That was a challenge that was also executed perfectly. Basically they made all good decisions.
It would be a 10 if it had more replay value. And yes, this film had plenty good about it and the message at the end is one of them!
I've been eager to see this since I saw my first promo for it. So due to the anticipation I suspected I'd be setting myself up for disappointment.
But I thoroughly enjoyed this from the beginning. The story didn't quite go the path expected, which is good. It meant I had a new fresh tale to explore as it unfolded. Taika as usual played a brilliant part. All the actors were cast brilliantly and played their roles to the level needed for the movie. Hell, even Rebel Wilson was good and I usually loathe her.
Great movie for some light entertainment. I'd highly recommend.
February 16, 2020
Diary Entry #1
Jojo Rabbit (2019)
I’ve been a bit on a Taika Waititi binge lately, watching movies of him I had not seen before. I’ve seen What We Do in the Shadows (2014) and Thor: Ragnarok (2017) before, but I’ve yet to see his particularly well balanced style in yet another movie. So I went through his oeuvre and found another couple of gems in Boy (2010) and Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016). His excellent use of character combined with a fun way to use a camera (he likes to rotate it in place so you experience the entire room and actions in it in one take, it’s quite lovely) drew me to really look forward to this experience.
I just came out of It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) when I put this on and of course, the movie experience is quite different. I don’t know how Waititi manages it, but he draws us into the Nazi world without ridiculing them too much but also not vindicate any kind of their actions. He shows and tells us that Jojo does live in a cruel world, despite the slapstick like qualities his surroundings form around him.
Taika is very good at building relationships between people that meet each other for the first time. It’s a recurring theme in all of his movies. Two characters that meet up and are forced in some way to spend time together and get to know each other through dialogue and sharing of philosophies. His Andersonesque way of story through exposition makes me happy every time. Sometimes you don’t need words to tell what is going on. A well shaped image guides your mind towards the conclusion he wants you to draw from the scene. I admire that a lot in a filmmaker.
He doesn’t ask a lot of his audience, he’s not as symbolic as Anderson can be. But Taika knows how to be precise and concise at the same time. At this point, his style has become quite streamlined and he can fit pretty much anything he wants into the format he has become comfortable with. That’s why watching Jojo Rabbit feels like coming home to me. You know what to expect camera and dialogue wise, throw in a little bit of Waititi awkwardness, sprinkle in a setting that is compelling and homely at the same time and voila. You have a Taika Waititi movie.
Now, it’s definitely not his best. What We Do in the Shadows (2014) reserves that right. But it was of the same level as Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016). It’s bright, it’s funny without ridiculing itself. The story, you know, it’s a play on the Romeo & Juliet situation. It’s how it’s told and shown which is important. With the help of brilliant child actor Roman Griffin Davis as Jojo, this story just glitters off your screen.
Scarlett Johansson deserved that Oscar nod, Sam Rockwell was delightfully apathetic at first but vindicates himself later on. Rebel Wilson was there too and her bluntness got a good laugh or two out of me. The only thing that bothered me is that their accents jumped all over the place and all I could hear from Rockwell was Waititi’s New Zealand accent.
I think Waitit blends humor and emotion again in a perfect way, the story feels satisfying, has humor and sadness, regret and delight. If you’re a fan of his work, you’ll love this. If you’re not into him, you’ll question things a bit more than I did.
Thanks for reading, have a wonderful day!
I laughed, I cried, and I was incredibly entertained. The end man, it was great.
Shout by UNIVERSAL_ACEVIP 5BlockedParent2020-02-06T22:57:52Z
WOW, what a crazy good movie, I really don't even have words