Review: "Jojo Rabbit" Finds the Love in Provocative Satire

Scene from Jojo Rabbit

The most incredible thing about director Taika Waititi's World War II satire Jojo Rabbit isn't the attention-grabbing choice to cast Adolf Hitler as a Harvey-esque imaginary friend, but how the film uses it. By all historical accounts, Hitler is notoriously evil - so to cast him in a quirky comedy that's drawn comparisons to Wes Anderson feels a bit tone-deaf, especially in a decade where his ideals remain unfortunately prominent. However, that is to write off what Waititi is going for with this satire. This isn't an endorsement of Hitler, but more about how his ideas of hate can consume a society not wishing to go the extra mile for empathy. He's the flamboyant sidekick, childishly taunting his enemies and encouraging protagonist Jojo (Roman Griffin Davis) to use mind control on his enemies. Waititi wants the ideas to be deconstructed in a way that draws attention to how silly they are, how they exist in a world full of delusion. It's a fine tightrope that should at least earn Waititi credit for making the boldest Oscar season movie in years. It may not have the sharpest teeth out for Nazism directly, but its choice to explore the growth of a child learning to understand the world makes this a clever tale full of heart and understanding, which the world needs more than ever.

Disney Considers "Jojo Rabbit" Potentially Too Uncomfortable for Audiences

Scene from Jojo Rabbit

It seemed like only time until someone would complain about Taika Waititi's latest film Jojo Rabbit. The teaser dropped a few weeks back now and it found the director starring as a flamboyant Adolf Hitler as an imaginary friend to a little boy. As one could guess given his filmography, this is likely to be a satire even going as far as to advertise that it's an attack on hate. However, there's one group of people who are not happy about it, and they have the most power to do something about it: Disney. While the film was made under Fox Searchlight prior to the historic merger, Disney is now responsible for its release and things aren't looking great. It may still get released, but the nervousness around it may prove why forming the film industry into one bland monoculture is far from good thing.

The "Jojo Rabbit" Teaser Promises to Satirize Hatred with Promising Results

Scene from Jojo Rabbit

A few years ago, director Taika Waititi broke out internationally with the vampire parody What We Do in the Shadows. The film spawned a TV show and lead to him directing now two Thor movies for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While he has a lot on his plate, there's nothing that sounds more appealing in his career than his next film Jojo Rabbit. For better or worse, it's a film that looks to satirize Nazism by featuring a boy who imagines his best friend is notorious dictator Adolf Hitler. It's already a staggering film by description, and it doesn't take more than brief glimpses into the imagery to find the absurd premise fairly delightful. The trailer, billed as a "satire on hate," is planning on being one of the boldest films of the fall season, and one can't help but wonder if this takes Waititi into the Oscars circles, especially if it's as off-kilter as the minute-long footage.