Jean-Paul’s Rating: 5/5 stars

Bottom Line: Has everything you could ever want in a movie. A prepubescent Nazi. A girl in a wall. A cheerful in the face of adversity mother. A wacky captain and his sidekick. And, of course, Adolf Hitler!

Taika Waitiki is putting together quite a streak of excellent movies here. He had “What We Do in the Shadows” which was another great absurdist film, then “Hunt for the Wilderpeople” which I’ve not seen but has gotten great reviews, then “Thor:Ragnarok” which is one of the best Marvel films to date, and now “Jojo Rabbit”.

Movies don’t come more delightful than “Jojo Rabbit”. Set near the end of World War II, it is a story about a fervent young Nazi named Jojo (Roman Griffin Davis), his imaginary sidekick Adolf Hitler (Taika Waitiki), and a teenage Jew named Else (Thomasin McKenzie) living in Jojo’s mother Rosie’s (Scarlett Johansson) wall. I know what you’re saying, “Not ANOTHER story about a fervent young Nazi, his imaginary sidekick, and a teenage Jew living in the Nazi’s mother’s wall!”, but trust me, this one is different.

Waitiki has a gift for weaving a story and a talent for the absurd. Because let’s be honest, there is nothing more absurd than being a Nazi: “Oh, look at me! I’m a Nazi! I hate Jews and Blacks and everyone else that doesn’t look or think like me! My entire sense of self-worth is wrapped in making others feel worse so that I can feel better about myself! Don’t you just want to punch me in my stupid Nazi face? I know I often do! Trump 2020!” Maybe that should be sad. There’s nothing more sad than being a Nazi. it’s absurdisad. But I digress. Waitiki has assembled a pitch perfect ensemble cast for this movie and every character is believably ridiculous, which is hugely important when crafting an absurdist movie. He also stars as the most ridiculous Adolph Hitler you will ever experience.

You can’t help but feel good at the end of “Jojo Rabbit”. It is a delight that can likely be watched again and again. I can see it getting a slew of Oscars this year, but none would it be more worthy of winning (If it existed. Make it exist Academy!) than Best Ensemble Cast. From the kids to the adults they were all great. Go see this movie! Then go see it again!