Jojo Rabbit Review!

Alright! Today I will be discussing one of the best films of 2019 that I have neglected to talk about for... nearly a year. Although, if it wasn't a limited searchlight release, I totally would have watched it. Alas, I do not live in New York and California, and now, in the year of Corona, I get my pay back.


But, just for a recap, Jojo Rabbit is a movie directed by Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok) about a young boy living in Nazi Germany, whose best friend is an imaginary Hitler. He loves all of the propaganda that is unknowingly fed to him until he finds out his mother is hiding a Jew in his house.

Basically, everyone liked the movie. My sister absolutely loves it. It was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress, and Film Editing. It won Adapted Screenplay.



The first thing I would like to say is that the performances are incredible. The child who plays Jojo Rabbit, Roman Griffin Davis, is incredible in the film. He's up there with Haley Joel Osment in the Sixth Sense. He was 12 years old. And everyone is bringing it, Scarlett Johansson is here, she's good, the person who plays the Jewish girl, Thomasin McKenzie, she's good, Taika Waititi as the imaginary New Zealander Hitler was hilarious, and Sam Rockwell's a Captain was both really sad and funny.

Thomas McKenzie as Jojo Rabbit

The film is funny. The film is extremely well made. There's only so much praise I can give movies without sounding like a broken record, you know?

I could sit here and analyze the amazing production design for hours, the absolutely gorgeous color palette, the emotional story that all of the characters go through, or how we need more satirical Nazi movies (This and Life is Beautiful?), but I can't do that. You can explain why things are bad, but things that are good take a lot of thought.

 Like, "It's easier to ask forgiveness than permission," it's easier to analyze how things went wrong then how they went right, because 99% of the time, it's "They know what they're doing."


Taika Waititi has fully mastered the craft of cinema, I guess. He's leveled up all the way. Thor: Ragnarok was amazing, Jojo Rabbit's amazing, the last episode of the Mandalorian was amazing, and I'm excited to see Thor: Love and Thunder, and any other projects he'll make.

He's making an Akira movie? Dope. An adaptation of Next Goal Wins, a true story about the American Samoa football team as they go from being one of the worst teams to winning the 2014 FIFA World Cup? Cool! He's making an animated Charlie and the Chocolate Factory series for Netflix? And another one based on the Oompa Loompas? YES! And a Star Wars movie! Wow! Is it Christmas?

I'm so excited to see what he does next. I think this is another director where I just have to watch his new movies, possible the first one since Christopher Nolan. Amazing.

You know, I haven't actually discussed Jojo Rabbit that much in the Jojo Rabbit movie review. That's bad. Let's also say that the film's visual style is immersive and impressive, it has twists and turns that had me guessing how the film would end and a really emotional scene where I cried. It's a good movie. One of the best.

Overall, I give Jojo Rabbit a 10/10. "Jojo Rabbit exceeds the craft of storytelling on a visual, emotional, and comedical level, with fine performances to wash it down."