Hutch is back. And thank the Gods he is, because I loved the first Nobody.
Nobody 2 picks up four years after the events of the first Nobody. Hutch finds himself paying back the balance of the $30 million he set ablaze after unintentionally taking on the Russian Mob.
Hutch is forced to perform an unending string of international assassination jobs by the criminal organization whose money it was. This takes its toll on his home life and relationship with his wife and children.
His solution is to take a short break and take his family on vacation. He decides to go to the one place his father ever took him. A place that he has fond memories of.
Of course, this is Hutch, and trouble and bonkers violence follow him like a stray puppy looking for food and shelter.
His ideal family getaway, where all he wants to do is make happy memories, goes pear-shaped when he once again inadvertently steps into another situation, forcing him to call upon his particular set of skills, interrupting his idyllic trip.
Returning with Odenkirk are Connie Nielsen as Hutch’s incredibly understanding wife, Paisley Cadorath, and Gage Monroe as his kids, Sammy and Brady. Of course, RZA as Hutch’s brother Harry and Christopher Lloyd as his scene-stealing father, David, are back. Also returning are Colin Salmon as The Barber and Michael Ironside as Eddie.
Joining them this time are John Ortiz, Colin Hanks, and Sharon Stone, who is utterly sublime as the scenery-chewing, over-the-top, local crime boss, Lendina. The amount of fun she must have had playing Lendina is evident in every frame of film she appears in.
This film is National Lampoon’s Vacation with a body count, 87North style. Except Hutch Mansell is NOT Clark Griswald. Thank the moose out front, he isn’t.
I love Bob Odenkirk. Everything he is in is better for his appearance. He has this humor and presence that, when I know he is in the film/TV show/whatever, it immediately rises at least 10 notches in the “hell yeah” category.
Nobody, and subsequently Nobody 2, was like this for me.
Odenkirk elevates this series to the next level.
This isn’t just another John Wick knockoff.
Well, I mean it IS. However, Odenkirk’s dry, deadpan sense of humor offsets the violence and enhances the situational, over-the-top action, with a needed, humorous slow breath.
This break amplifies the batshit crazy stunts and balletic violent choreography. It is the perfect counteragent necessary to give the film a balance lacking in most action films. It is what we have come to both admire and expect from the folks at 87North Productions.
They have a winning recipe, and they aren’t going to alter it.
Don’t fix what ain’t broke.
The string of 87North films, along with the ones this team has made before starting the company, from the original 2014 John Wick to this year’s incredible Ballerina starring Ana de Armas and beyond, have all been banger action films.
Nobody 2 is no exception.
Writer Derek Kolsted and director Timo Tjahjanto have crafted a hilarious, heartwarming story of love, memories, and family bonding, all wrapped in a tight, sometimes frenetic, ultra-violent action family film that you didn’t know you needed.
Slightly gory, but always heartfelt and inspiring, Nobody 2 is this summer’s fun family romp of a good time. I know this is true from the number of families with little, and I mean like, little children attending the screening I saw. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and even the kiddies loved it.
If you liked the first Nobody, then I think you will love this sequel even more. I definitely enjoyed this film more than the original. This film can go on the very short list of films whose sequel is better than the original. Make room, Godfather Part II, Empire Strikes Back, Wrath of Khan, and Paddington 2, because Nobody 2 is here to make memories.
* * * * *
Produced by Kelly McCormick, David Leitch,
Bob Odenkirk, Marc Provissiero, Braden Aftergood
Screenplay by Derek Kolstad, Aaron Rabin
Story by Derek Kolstad
Directed by Timo Tjahjanto
Starring Bob Odenkirk, Connie Nielsen, John Ortiz,
RZA, Colin Hanks, Christopher Lloyd, Sharon Stone
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