Review: Jojo Rabbit

Johannes Betzler is a ten year old living with his mother Rosie in Germany during the second world war. His father is fighting the allies in Italy and his only sister Inge has died not so long ago. He is fondly called as "Jojo". Jojo has two best friends and he has no doubt in his mind about his priorities of their ranking. His second best friend is Yorki, a kind, chubby and sweet talking boy. His first best friend is Adolf. Yes, the fuhrer himself. Jojo has Hitler as his prime idol and dreams of meeting him and becoming his best buddy. He often imagine himself talking to his own version of the fuhrer, who is never shy of offering ideas or cigarettes, as a matter of fact, to Jojo whenever he is in doubt.

Jojo and Yorki find a way to meet fuhrer one day and they start, by joining a Nazi youth training camp. Captain Klenzendorf along with Finkel and Fraulein, oversees the kids as they are on their way to become proud future Nazis. Unfortunately, not everything goes according to plan for the little Jojo as he sees himself getting bullied by the older kids meanwhile earning him the name "Rabbit" for being soft, as well as getting a scarred face and a limp while trying his best to prove his bravery upon the advice of his "best friend", Hitler! Jojo tries to redeem himself by doing petty tasks, meanwhile working on his book on Jews, who he hates to the core for no particular reason other than the few extravagant stories he has heard of. Jojo's life soon turns upside down when he learns that his beloved mother is hiding a Jew in the attic of their own home, against all his beliefs and ethics.

The movie is a daring attempt and points must be given to the director Taika Waititi for that. He himself plays the character of a "childish" Hitler, Jojo's imaginary best friend. Telling the story of a boy who worships Adolf Hitler was always going to split people into varied opinions. With such a topic, which is still unspeakable to many, it was bound to bring in harsh criticism no matter how light hearted or greater points the makers were trying to give.

Roman Griffin Davis plays the character of "Jojo Rabbit" and with an overwhelming sweetness and conviction, he pulls it off quite remarkably considering he is apparently included in every single scene of the movie. Archie Yates, plays Yorki and his cute mannerisms would make you wish if Jojo would have him as his number one friend so that you could see a lot more of him. Scarlett Johansson plays Rosie, Jojo's loving mother, capping off an amazing year in her career. Thomasin McKenzie was so good in last year's "Leave no trace" and she is in this movie as Elsa, the Jewish girl hiding in Jojo's home. There isn't much to do for Sam Rockwell, Alfie Allen and Rebel Wilson but their characters surely brings few moments of laughter and emotions.

For me, the movie is a success in bringing up the themes of innocent childhood, friendship, love and confusion along the backdrop of a much serious situation. It also tries to imply that we cannot and should not take everything on the face value and love and togetherness is the greatest war we should be fighting for.

I haven't had as much of a good laughter as I had with this one, among this year's movies and it's a thumbs up for the "little rabbit", Jojo from me.