Jojo Rabbit came much hyped and highly recommended, and it certainly delivered some laughs, but I left feeling underwhelmed.

The movie tells the story of young JoJo, a ten-year-old boy infatuated with the idea of becoming a Nazi and fighting for the Reich, all aided by his imaginary friend, an adult (rather goofy) Adolf Hitler. He winds up under the tutelage (of sorts) of a jaded, one-eyed Nazi commander acted by Sam Rockwell. Meanwhile, Jojo's mother (played by Scarlett Johansson), secretly takes in a young Jewish girl and hides her in the attic. This all takes place in the final phase of the war, with the Germans on retreat.

The premise alone promises something of a dark, absurdist comedy, and the film offers that, along with some slapstick elements, but Jojo Rabbit also veers into serious territory, touching on themes of nationalism, indoctrination, and anti-Semitism, among others. Unfortunately, the film too frequently jumps from outlandish comedy to war drama, without ever committing to either sufficiently, resulting in an uneven effect and a viewing experience often more awkward than enjoyable. The movie is worth seeing at least once, though, if only for Sam Rockwell's show-stealing performance.