Jojo Rabbit Review: 7 Ups & 2 Downs

1. It Could've Hit Even Harder

As nimbly as Waititi alternates between comedy and horror throughout the film, it's also fair to say that, like the humour, the drama does feel somewhat neutered in order to create a more digestible product for wider audiences.

It would be ridiculous to say that Jojo Rabbit doesn't confront some of the Holocaust's most horrific atrocities, though there are long stretches of the film where this feels weirdly pushed aside.

For a film that is all about combating hate, it's impossible to fully crystalise that vision without depicting the brutal extent of the hate itself, and while there are undeniably devastating moments throughout, overall it does seem like Waititi underplays the true pervasive hatefulness of the Nazi ideology.

Had he played-up this aspect a little more, the third act would've likely hit with even greater force.

But these issues aside, Jojo Rabbit nails most of its targets with a disarming playfulness. Here's what Waititi and co. got right...