8. Jojo Rabbit; movie review

JOJO RABBIT
Cert 12A
108 mins
BBFC advice: Contains discrimination, violence, bloody images, sex references, strong language

January is consistently the best time to watch high-quality movies at the cinema because they are vying for the top industry awards.
Jojo Rabbit is certainly among the pictures in the frame for gongs and highlights again the very individual work of Taika Waititi.
He has built a reputation of quirkiness with Thor Ragnarok, Hunt For The Wilderpeople, What We Do In The Shadows and Boy.
I am pleased to report that he has outdone himself with this comedy set in Nazi Germany in the last days of the Second World War.
Waititi has a particular knack of eliciting comedy from children and his star turns here are Roman Griffin Davis, making his debut in the title role and another newcomer Archie Yates as his best friend.
Jojo is a ten-year-old German who is so obsessed with his support of the Nazi party that he has an imaginary friend called Adolf.
Waititi plays the Fuhrer of Jojo's mind as camp, hilarious but occasionally indignant.
Meanwhile, the young boy finds frustration in his goal to be a successful German soldier, messing up at Hilter youth camp and being taken off track by unwelcome distractions such as a Jewish teenager (Thomasin McKenzie). Indeed, the relationship he has with her becomes the main plank of the movie.
The flamboyant camp commandant is played by Sam Rockwell with Alfie Allen and Rebel Wilson as his sidekicks.
All three add a Pythonesque-style to their roles through both their actions and off-the-wall dialogue. Stephen Merchant brings unlikely mirth to the role of chief Gestapo officer.
Indeed, it occurred to me that they and Waititi could have all fitted in well in The Producers' Springtime For Hitler.
Scarlett Johanssen portrays Jojo's mother adding pathos to the humour.
And let it be clear - Jojo Rabbit has significant points to make.
 It is a mockery of war and the ideologies which lead to it and it is an exploration of how young people with entirely different backgrounds and views and find common ground.
With that in mind, it hits its mark superbly. It is funny but thought-provoking. And it made me yearn for more of Waititi's movies.

Reasons to watch: There won't be a quirkier comedy this year
Reasons to avoid: Some might find elements in bad taste

Laughs: Six for us - many more for some in our screen
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 9/10

Did you know? The positive word of Jojo Rabbit saw a huge increase in audiences from five cinemas in its first week to 995 cinemas in its sixth.

The final word. Taika Waititi: "“It’s not the first time anyone has approached this subject with jokes. I always remind people that The Great Dictator was made in 1939, before the war. So it’s in good company.” GQ Magazine

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