Jojo Rabbit (2019)

 A comedy about Nazi-Germany in todays politically correct society... Starting off with The Beatles "I want to hold your hand" with German lyrics... Oh my

Films with a kid front and centre is always a risk but Roman Griffin Davis delivers in a way Daniel Radcliffe wishes he could at his age. Not in an easy part either, was will become obvious further down. Taiki Waititi (also directing) is a most amusing Hitler, clearly taking inspiration from Dick Shawn's turn in the original "The Producers". And it's marvellous to see Scarlett Johansson's comical and more subtle talents at full scale after growing tired of her as an Avenger. The most excellent turn, however, comes from Thomasine McKenzie. Easily turning from fatigue and hopelessness to sneering threats at our little villainous protagonist. Displaying close to every emotion available to a teenager in her screen-time. Of the extras, there is special praise for Stephen Merchant as a ridiculously tall Gestapo-man. 

Generally, Waititi demands a lot of his actors, changing moods and pace in a heartbeat. It could have given a feeling of inconsistency, but it's mostly done with such thought and care, that it comes out as delightful little surprises. And he even manages real suspense at times. 

The film starts very-light hearted and fast-paced, but as it finds its core of morals and relationship development, it goes more jagged. There is real beauty in the emotional bond forming between our little Hitler-Jugend and the teenage Jewish girl in the attic. Truly a joy to behold. The humour does wander off at times, and you could lay a bit of blame on the director for abandoning too much of it, in exchange for the sentimentality that naturally surrounds the basis of the story. It's also a bit more hit and miss when applied.

Jojo Rabbit is a real roller-coaster, as it explores so many moods and emotions at such a blistering pace. And though Waititi doesn't really manage to keep it funny throughout, and gets a bit lost towards the end, this still is something you rarely see this days: A kind of film you haven't really seen before, made with genuine love for the project. And even if it hadn't been a very good film, that would still have been a good reason to see it.

8/10