The second film I watched with my new Odeon Limitless membership was Jojo Rabbit, a tale of a young boy and member of Hitler Youth (Johannes – Jojo), living in Nazi Germany, as his mum harbours a Jewish girl in a hidden cupboard in his dead sister’s bedroom. Oh and his imaginary friend is Hitler. Knowing most of this already, I expected it to be weird; it was even weirder than that.
Writer and Director, the Kiwi comedian Taika Waititi also played the imaginary friend Hitler. Hitler’s thoughts being those of a jingoistic 10-year old German, allowed for plenty of in-jokes with the audience, to make them feel clever, but there were a number of cheap gags too. It was enjoyable to see Sam Rockwell playing a slightly less serious role, having bagged Best Supporting Oscar nominations in each of the last two years (Three Billboards – Winner and playing George Bush Jr. in Vice). In Jojo Rabbit, he plays the repeatedly demoted, seemingly alcoholic, one-eyed Hitler Youth boss, Captain Klenzendorf.
In spite of a series of big names featuring in the film including Scarlett Johansson (Jojo’s mum), Alfie Allen (Klenzendorf’s sidekick), Rebel Wilson (as whatever she is) and even Stephen Merchant (obviously as the head of the Gestapo…), it requires the two young actors, Roman Griffin Davis (Jojo) and Thomasin McKenzie to maintain the film’s momentum.
It’s a very difficult film to provide a rating for, I couldn’t recommend watching it because it’s so unusual and I don’t know what you (yes, you!) like, but if you’re thinking about watching it, you have to watch it for yourself. It’s funny, irreverent, weird yes, but very entertaining.
ClingFilm 