The Quarantine Stream: The Satire Of ‘Jojo Rabbit’ Packs Potent Punches In Both Comedy And Drama
By Ethan Anderton/Aug. 6, 2020 7:00 am EST
Though Taika Waititi deserves endless praise for his raucously hilarious turn as a seemingly harmless, friendly version of Hitler, it’s Roman Griffin Davis as Jojo who makes this movie. His innocent eyes see the world for what it is, but that also means he’s willing to accept certain realities without questioning them, which is why he’s so hellbent on being a loyal Nazi. But as soon as he’s presented with an opposing perspective by someone who isn’t an adult simply telling him how to live his life, he starts to question what he’s been led to believe. Bringing this war story down to a kid’s level makes it easier to swallow without being condescending or overly simplistic.
Scarlett Johansson also deserves plenty of praise for delivering a performance that feels like it was pulled from the Golden Age of Hollywood. You could take her performance from this movie and insert it into any number of films from the 1940s and 1950s and it wouldn’t feel out of place at all. She keeps the movie grounded while zany comedy unfolds around her, and as Jojo’s mother, she’s the voice of reason. Because of that, her character is responsible for one of the most moving moments in the entire film. And that’s all I’ll say for anyone who hasn’t seen the movie yet.
Very rarely has a film so delicately balanced gutbusting comedy and heartbreaking drama. Though some think it’s crass to make comedy out of the Holocaust, Jojo Rabbit does it with purpose and substance. It’s a story of acceptance and love in the face of indoctrinated hate, and it skewers those who instilled a culture of fear in an entire population that still feels the same prejudice to this very day. Nazis don’t need to be portrayed as deadly serious in order for us to understand that they suck. There’s value in degrading and mocking them harshly and in such a silly fashion. Jojo Rabbit manages to do that while magnificently while also bringing some tears to your eyes.
