{"id":2311,"date":"2020-05-25T08:18:20","date_gmt":"2020-05-25T06:18:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.senses.se\/en\/review-jojo-rabbit-uhd\/"},"modified":"2025-05-10T21:45:20","modified_gmt":"2025-05-10T19:45:20","slug":"review-jojo-rabbit-uhd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.senses.se\/en\/review-jojo-rabbit-uhd\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Jojo Rabbit (UHD)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

New Zealand director Taika Waititi<\/strong> initially caught my attention with Thor Ragnar\u00f6k<\/strong><\/a>. His direction demonstrably revitalized the Thor franchise, injecting humor and self-deprecation. However, the humor eventually felt excessive, becoming both the film’s greatest asset and its principal drawback. Upon viewing the trailer for Jojo Rabbit<\/strong>, I was uncertain; the film appeared to have the potential to be either exceptionally brilliant or profoundly flawed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jojo (Roman Griffin Davis)<\/strong>, a fervent member of the Hitler Youth, resides with his mother, Rosie (Scarlett Johansson)<\/strong>, and his imaginary friend, Adolf Hitler (Taika Waititi)<\/strong>. Following an accident involving a hand grenade, Jojo is confined to his home, where he discovers that his mother is concealing Elsa (Thomasin McKenzie)<\/strong>, a Jewish girl. Initially fearful of the perceived “evil” Jewish woman, Jojo gradually begins to question the validity of his indoctrination, leading to an awakening with significant consequences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I approached Jojo Rabbit<\/em> with anticipation, but ultimately found it underwhelming. Based on the 2008 novel Caging Skies, the film deviates by including the imaginary Hitler figure, a decision that undermines the core premise. The concept of a mother opposing Nazi ideology while raising a son indoctrinated into the Hitler Youth presents a compelling and serious narrative. However, the film’s fluctuating tone, oscillating between absurd portrayals of a childish Hitler and attempts at gravitas, creates a disjointed viewing experience. This inconsistency hinders the development of a meaningful connection with the main characters, diminishing their impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roman Griffin Davis delivers a remarkable debut performance in the lead role, showcasing considerable promise. Sam Rockwell<\/strong>, a consistently reliable actor, is characteristically excellent as the disillusioned officer overseeing the Hitler Youth. Stephen Merchant<\/strong> provides a particularly memorable performance as a Gestapo officer. However, Scarlett Johansson<\/strong>, typically known for her nuanced performances, seems miscast in this role (despite receiving an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress). Her portrayal of Rosie lacks consistency; one particularly odd scene involves her seemingly channeling the deceased father. While the sequence could have been poignant, it ultimately feels incongruous due to the film’s structural issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While parody and irony can be effective cinematic tools, as demonstrated by Mel Brooks’<\/strong> seminal work, The Producers<\/strong>, Jojo Rabbit<\/em> struggles to coalesce. Despite moments of humor, the film feels disjointed. A potentially impactful and serious story appears to have been superficially embellished with humor, yielding disappointing results. A more earnest adaptation of the source material would have been preferable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The UltraHD edition<\/strong> from Fox maintains their standard of excellent picture quality, delivering deep blacks and vibrant colors. HDR10<\/strong> enhances the visuals, providing added depth. The audio is presented in DTS HD 5.1<\/strong>, offering clear dialogue and a well-balanced soundscape. Given the film’s emphasis on dialogue, the absence of Dolby Atmos is not particularly noticeable. The supplementary material includes a documentary lasting just over half an hour and deleted scenes, but the highlight is undoubtedly Taika Waititi’s engaging commentary track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In conclusion, Jojo Rabbit<\/em> failed to meet expectations; the trailer presented a different vision, which I would have preferred to see realized. However, the quality of the Ultra HD edition, coupled with the highly enjoyable commentary track, warrants a passing grade. But nothing more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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