Brilliant, funny, touching, sad, hopeful and heartwarming.

Rating: 10/10 (5 January 2020)

It's the latter stages of the war but despite this, the Reich continues to present itself as winning and the spell that Adolf Hitler has over the German people is still strong. JoJo is a ten year old boy who, like many children, see the world in a very simple fashion. Hitler is good and Jews are bad. As a member of the Hitler youth he wants to be a good Nazi and has Adolf Hitler as an imaginary friend.
An accident at camp leaves him stuck at home where he discovers there is a Jewish girl hiding in his house. From this point on JoJo is forced to confront the grey areas of the world. Jews might not be evil monsters, how can his worldview be perfect if his Mother is hiding enemies of the state? How can he do his duty like a good Nazi if the consequences would likely be the arrest and execution of his mother?
Through this device, JoJo slowly uncovers the truth about the Nazi party and his childlike worldview moves from black and white to a more nuanced understanding.
If this sounds like heavy material it is, but this is also a very funny satire and Taika Waititi manages to dance the fine line between keeping this funny and touching, without making it depressing or treating the material without the necessary seriousness. Roman Griffin Davis is fantastic as JoJo, as is Thomasin Mackenzie as Elsa. Scarlett Johansson and Sam Rockwell give wonderful performances and the rest of the cast, Stephen Merchant as a Gestapo agent, Alfie Allen as Captain Klenzendorf's Lieutenant, Rebel Wilson as a militant Nazi instructor and Archie Yates as JoJo' s friend Yorki. Taika Waititi does double duties as Director and as JoJo's imaginary Hitler who slowly transforms from supportive imaginary childlike friend to frenzied German Chancellor imaginary friend.
Brilliant, funny, touching, sad, hopeful and heartwarming.