JoJo Rabbit

Starring: Roman Griffin Davis, Thomasin McKenzie,Taika Waititi, Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, Rebel Wilson, Alfie Allen, Stephen Merchant

Director: Taika Waititi

Based on the novel "Caging Skies" by Christine Leunens

Set during World War II, JoJo Betzler (Roman Griffin Davis) wants nothing more than to be Hitler's best friend and right hand man. This manifests itself literally in an imaginary friend that is Hitler (Taika Waititi). While attending a Hitler Youth camp led by Captain Klenzendorf (Sam Rockwell) and Fraulein Rahm (Rebel Wilson), JoJo is left disfigured and crippled after a grenade accident. His single mother Rosie (Scarlett Johansson) is determined to help him get out of the house and gets him a job working at the Hitler Youth station in town. Shortly after, JoJo discovers his mother is not just hiding something, but someone. A young Jewish girl named Elsa (Thomasin McKenzie) is hiding in walls of their home. JoJo is initially angered that his mother would betray her country, but after getting to know Elsa he begins to question the beliefs that have been ingrained within him his entire life.

This movie is an admittedly hard sell, however it balances all the elements beautifully, knowing when to switch from the horrors of war, to comedy, and back again. It also doesn't attempt to hide its intentions, as it is a self described anti hate movie with a very strong message of acceptance that it wears proudly on its sleeve. I felt good leaving the theater, something that I haven't felt in a while.

The cast is fantastic, with the film resting on the shoulders of Roman Griffin Davis in his first film role. It's an incredible debut and this kid has a big career ahead of him. He nails the naiveté of the character but also excels with the emotional material thanks to many strong scenes with Johansson and Thomasin McKenzie. The relationship the two young actors have is incredible and their feelings that develop over the course of the film feel real and earned thanks to their fantastic chemistry. McKenzie continues to prove she's one of the more exciting and talented young actresses right now, expanding on her stellar work in last year's Leave No Trace. The rest of the cast is fantastic but mostly play their characters for laughs. Rockwell does a great job with a character that has a lot more going on beneath the surface than he lets on. Stephan Merchant shows up as a Gestapo officer that ends up getting some of the biggest laughs thanks to a "Heil Hitler" gag that works incredibly well.

Kudos to director Taika Waititi, who took what I understand is a serious WWII book and was able to add jokes to it. His influence is strongly felt in the finished product and I'm happy he was finally able to see the script get made, which he finished in 2011. The delay in getting it made only benefits the message he wanted to deliver, as its themes are much more relevant now. Unlike most war films, which feature a grey hue, this film is much more colorful and benefits from being told through the perspective of a 10 year old. Waititi often works with child actors with great success and this movie is no different. This also has one of my favorite PG-13 F bombs ever.

If I had to knock the film for something, it would be the pacing at the beginning of the film. Maybe it was me trying to get used to the style and tone of the film, but it did take its time to get to its actual plot.

I absolutely adored this film, with its positive and uplifting message that had me leaving the theater smiling.