Movie #1781 ........................."JoJo Rabbit"

Movie #1781 "Jojo Rabbit" was great fun!  This is one of the best films I have seen this year so far, and I hope it is included in the academy awards  because it's that good.  Very rarely do you get to watch  such a dark humored film that has such a topical message and also pulls the viewer emotionally into the film.  The plot, as unbelievable as it seems, is summarized below, but it doesn't even scratch the surface as to what happens in the film.  One aspect of the film that isn't mentioned below but if you've seen the trailer you probably have guessed, is that  the director Taika Waititi (who also directed the very fine "Hunt for the the wilder people")plays Adolph Hitler, Jojo's imaginary friend.  And it's uncanny and sometimes very unsettling when he starts on a Hitlerian rant!  The young jewish girl is played by Thomas McKenzie who did an outstanding job as Ben Foster's daughter in another fine film "Leave No Trace" last year.  Scarlet Johannson is mom, and boy is she good here along with the inimitable Sam Rockwell!  This film reminded me of the dark humor in "Catch 22,"  the t;.v. show "Mash" and the film "The Grand Budapest Hotel."  The film is getting 78 % on rotten tomatoes, but some critics don't like the changes in tone throughout the film  --- I did because it kept the viewer on his/her toes ---- I don't know how this film does it, but the film can go from a really serious moment to humor in the next ---- and that helps show its major points; for example, the Germans' "deep state" which include  that Jews are like bats and sleep hanging from the ceilings, are handled with humor, but shown to be ridiculous!    For that reason, you can see the topical messages ringing true to us in 2019 with the increased interest of Nazism and the rise of fake news.  I'd give this 4.5  ---- highly recommend it, but you need to go in with an open mind and the knowledge that this has very dark humor.  It isn't quite "Life is Beautiful" but comes close in dealing with such a heavy subject as the holocaust with a bit of humor.  

Jojo Rabbit

 2019 PG-13 1h 48m 

In this World War II satire, young Jojo Betzler is yearning to join the Hitler Youth when he discovers that his mother -- who secretly works for the resistance -- is hiding a Jewish girl in the attic to save her from death.

Cast 

Roman Griffin Davis, Thomasin McKenzie, Taika Waititi, Rebel Wilson, Stephen Merchant, Alfie Allen, Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johansson, Brian Caspe, Luke Brandon Field

Director 

Taika Waititi

Genres 

Comedy, Spoofs and Satire, Dark Humor & Black Comedies, Dramas Based on the Book, Period Pieces, 20th Century Period Pieces

Moods 

Dark, Cerebral