Excellent Dramedy

Rating: 10/10 (9 February 2020)

This is what we used to call a Dramedy when we had our video store. Taika Watiti is able to take us on a journey that is like life - traveling through an emotional landscape from comedy to tragedy to poignancy and back again. There are scenes that just make you gasp, they are so unexpected and jarring. Then there are others that prompt belly laughs. According to Sam Rockwell, Taika "has a really good comedy compass."
In Hitler's Germany toward the end of WWII, the Nazis are so desperate that they recruit and train 10 year old boys and girls to be ready to fight when the Allies invade their towns. This of course sets up any number of comic situations. Jojo is such a gung-ho little Nazi that his imaginary friend is Hitler himself, who is hysterically portrayed by the director. But the hate and brutality of the Third Reich pops up throughout from time to time, creating contrast that keeps us on the edge of our seats.
The boy, Roman Griffin Davis, is extraordinary in his acting. As you can tell from all the award nominations and wins, the entire cast is excellent, as well as the writing, costumes, editing, etc. Everyone involved in the making of this film talks about how much fun they had.
While there are similarities to Life is Beautiful - a young boy is protected by his parent from the horrors and truth of Hitler's reign - one also has to give a nod to The Producers by Mel Brooks where the play Springtime for Hitler has the monster singing and dancing in silly songs.
In the end, the message of the film comes through that even in the face of unspeakable evil and cruelty, the humanity of enough people will manage, through courage, sacrifice, humor and open hearts, to restore a sense of compassionate community.