Hitler.... Youth's....

Rating: 10/10 (4 January 2020)

In England after the hyper madness which is Christmas comes the depressing month that is January and with it follow all the Oscar bait movies from America most of which are drama's and frequently in themselves depressing. Lucky for us this year Taika Waitit has thrown his name into the Oscar hat bringing out a comedy about the Hitler Youth... That doesn't sound like a comedy at all, leave it to the man behind the greatest Thor film ever (which is somewhat damming with faint praise) to find the balance between The Boy In Striped Pajamas and the play The Producers were trying to make.... So the reel question does this man Mine Kampf for Waititi?
Taika is a unique writer, he seems to have an ability in finding whit in the most obscure places, take What We Do In The Shadows for example, there have been countless movies spoofing and mocking the legend of Dracula and Vampires in general but few take the unique perspective of Taika. He is a man without compare, this is where we find Jojo Rabbit a film more about love and hope than an imaginary friend.
The challenge that Jojo Rabbit faces before it even begins is how funny can it be before it loses meaning? It's simple to mock the Nazis it's complicated to do so in a way that will keep the gravity of war in mind and ultimate pathos for the film, here is where Waititi shows his true genius. Jojo Rabbit while seemingly easy-going is just methodical in pacing all buildings for the ultimate sucker punch. Which I'm not ashamed to say brought tears to my eyes.
Jojo Rabbit has tension without ever being too serious. This is where Taika comes into his own, he uses Hitler as the joke, then add in that Taika plays the leader of the 3rd Reich personally and you have a recipe for success.
I cannot stress to you enough the power which Jojo Rabbit holds inside itself, this a is a movie far closer to Shindler's List than The Great Dictator, is it bold, unique and truly beautiful. Some of the simplest sequences are the most graceful; there is just something about watching Jojo ride his bike along a country road with his mum that I could happily watch for hours.
It would be stating the obvious to say that all the actors bring some of their most talented work to Jojo, so instead, I will speak about the headline character himself... Jojo. Roman Griffin Davis has a long and bright career in front of him, he can use abilities it takes actors decades to master already. Simple outstanding.
Jojo Rabbit is proof that Waititi isn't just the future of the film industry but the right now too. Jojo is a beautiful blend of both hilarity and heartbreak. Hail Waititi!
10 Mind Reading Jews out of 10