Jojo Rabbit (2019)

Rating: 5/10 (6 November 2019)

Jojo Rabbit (2019)
This is a movie that seems controversial, because it takes a chance with an overt invocation of Nazi Germany in a sympathetic setting. On fact, this movie has nothing to do with Nazis, Hitler or history, other than because of that history, various signs and symbols are part of our world heritage.
It takes about 1/2 the movie to discover that it is going to take no chances beyond juxtaposing Leni Riefenstahl newsreel footage with the Beatles singing in German. It dispenses with this bold gambit in the opening few minutes, taking the idea nowhere. But forgive yourself for thinking it might try to develop the idea.
Yes, this movie milks caricatures related to Nazis. No it's not a big deal. It's a cartoon, true to the Thor: Ragnarok pedigree of its creator.
Taika Waititi just wants to make a movie about adolescent love and the fear everyone rightly has about being included or excluded in a society that makes no sense, maybe largely because a society steeped in American movies and television makes no sense.
A goofy marionette doll made up to be Hitler is the imaginary friend of Jojo, a 10 year old German Boy Scout, at the edge of puberty. Think Harvey the Wonder Rabbit. A cute caricature of Anne Frank becomes his girlfriend.
If you are not old enough to be averse to the exploitation of the Third Reich for comedic-tragic purposes--The Producers (1967), anyone--you will be charmed by a well-photographed and carefully designed set piece, most likely created by Wes Anderson's production team in their off-time when he's doing animated features.
Nothing happens except that two kids fall in love under the auspices of personal tragedy. The dynamics of this go unexplored. I think Waititi means well, though his insights don't range any farther than open admonishments to keep a stiff upper lip and get on with life in spite of its emotional vicissitudes. And with a perky cheerful vibe.
Does the world need an upbeat lozenge about the Holocaust? After seeing the re-release of Mr. Klein (1976) I didn't reject this wacky sojourn. It's well acted. Its talent is given little to do but they make the best of it. The relationships portrayed are simplistic and one-dimensional, but not tacky. It is full of oddly good cheer, somehow obliterating the sense of how dark, morbid and grey the human experience often can be. We all know what's gonna happen: Allied Americans are gonna kick some Nazi ass and parade around with the Red, White and Blue, then Trump is gonna be re-elected. Freedum: "Learn it, love it, live it" as some golf nerd played by Chevy Chase once told his caddy. "da-da-da-da-da..." (Putt) "De-de-de-de-de...." (Putt). That's as far as this goes; sinking close putts with one hand on the iron.
And I didn't really wish for anything else to happen. The kid, his mom, and Anne Frank are all super appealing people, Sam Rockwell is a crank with a heart-of-gold, and Hitler is a goofball, designed to be annoying.
I don't see any comparison of this with Life if Beautiful (1997). I like this better. But the Begnini movie had an odd irony, noted by cultural critic S. Zizek, that while we are supposed to be moved by Begnini's efforts to protect the spirit of the boy, convincing him that everything happening in the concentration camp is part of an elaborate rouse, the boy in fact knows that he's being duped but plays along to protect the feelings of his caretaker, just as children pretend to believe in Santa Clause to humor their parents and get presents. But this uncanny quality doesn't exist within the Begnini movie itself. It had to be observed from without. There's probably no such irony possible with Jojo Rabbit.
This is the boundary of the uncanny which Jojo Rabbit somehow steadfastly avoids, amounting to nothing more than an emotional device to remind us love hurts. "It's like Ghost meets the Mabchurian Candidate, but it's got a heart... that's in the right spot." You'll learn little except a couple of R. M. Rilke quotes.
Anybody who has ever been discriminated against--which is pretty much everybody who went to high-school--will identify with the vilification of the unwanted other. Why this has to be couched in the horror of WWII Germany, I have no idea, except that's all close to being forgotten because everyone who was there has passed. Yes, the legacy lives on. But what does this movie have to do with it?
Try looking up "billy wilder death mills" on Youtube to become connected to a bit of what the era of the Allied victory actually looked like. Then forget about Jojo Rabbit as having any bearing on history.
BTW--Jojo Rabbit gets his name in a manner directly lifted from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004). Watch that movie and consider how the memory-hole of Hollywood plies the collective mind.
Enjoyable fare that's more empty than it seems, but is so darn heartfelt you may not mind. It was OK with me.