Jojo Rabbit

To Be Determined

Movie Synoposis

Taika Waititi’s WWII satire follows a lonely German boy who must confront his blind nationalism when he discovers his mom is hiding a young Jewish girl.

Writer/director Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, What We Do in the Shadows), brings his signature style of humor and pathos to his latest film, Jojo Rabbit, a World War II satire that follows a lonely German boy (Roman Griffin Davis as JoJo) whose world view is turned upside down when he discovers his single mother (Scarlett Johansson) is hiding a young Jewish girl (Thomasin McKenzie) in their attic. Aided only by his idiotic imaginary friend, Adolf Hitler (played by filmmaker Waititi), Jojo must confront his blind nationalism.

A work of sublime sweetness and beauty. —Karen Gordon, Original-CIN

Johannson has never played a sweeter character on the screen, and she delivers an endearing performance. —Roger Moore, Movie Nation

Yes, the tone is a tricky balance that sometimes almost gets away from Waititi — there are some laugh-out-loud moments alongside some scenes of harrowing sadness. But for the most part, Waititi and the cast, which is uniformly excellent, manage to make it work.—Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic

Absurdist humor abounds throughout a story whose underlying themes echo Elvis Costello’s eternal question, “What’s so funny ’bout peace, love, and understanding?” even as corpses dangle from a foregrounded gallows.— Marc Savlov, Austin Chronicle ­­