11/9/19 - Jojo Rabbit (2019) - 6+7-/10

JoJo blends the vigor and wonder of youth with the oppressive depression of war filled Nazi Germany. It is crisply shot, savvily acted, and is chalk full of witty satire filled dialogue. It is undoubtedly fun, but the torturous horror bleeds through the smiles and frivolity, leaving and strange mixture of hollowness and happiness swirling inside.

A plainly human and moving portrayal of a lost German generation, both those in fatigues and those in stripes. Touching, but it never quite split me in twain at my core. Not that it was supposed to, but I did find myself divided, wrestling with the subject matter and its pleasurable portrayal. It wasn’t a negative, but it also wasn’t wholly positive, as I just couldn’t shake this unsure feeling.

All of the “bad guys” are so blatantly over the top (the booze swilling despondent veteran, his homo-erotically charged ass-istant, the gratuitously miserable fraulein of fear, the cartoonish Slendermen gestapo, and the delightful dunce of Adolf) but it is the subtle evil of poisoned child minds that provides cynical laughs morphing into despondent despair.

I liked this film, but I expected to love it. The performances, especially of Johansson, were sympathetic and strong. I just felt at cross-purposes so often. Fun and worth a watch, ticking so many of the boxes one might want during award season, but it won’t make the top of my list end of year.