The Dean of Cinema

Written by Dean Zarbaugh II

Nobody ruins his vacation. Former assassin Hutch Mansell takes his family on a nostalgic vacation to a small-town theme park, only to be pulled back into violence when they clash with a corrupt operator, a crooked sheriff, and a ruthless crime boss.

Timo Tjahjanto directs this sequel to the wildly popular and successful Nobody starring Bob Odenkirk as Hutch, the titular character. The script is penned by Aaron Rabin and Derek Kolstad.

I enjoyed the first film a ton. I’ve been a fan of Odenkirk since his days on SNL and Mr. Show. I spent a few years studying at The Second City in Los Angeles which was daunting, having pictures of greats like Odenkirk, Chris Farley, and Tina Fey adorning every wall in the place. There was a lot of imposter syndrome going on, but I’m glad I stuck with it. The second film is a fun continuation of the first upping the ante as every good sequel should.

Nobody 2 runs slightly shorter than its predecessor but Aaron Rabin and Derek Kolstad’s script is a well-paced ride from start to finish. It doesn’t hesitate to get into the story and the action. Rabin and Kolstead craft a fun and exciting world that feels lived in while also being absolutely bonkers at the same time. After the events of the first film, and the family drifting further apart, Hutch decides to take his family to the one place his dad took him on vacation as a kid. The bad guys are easy to hate, and I was cheering out loud throughout, watching how Hutch methodically takes them down .

Nobody 2’s cinematography is absolutely stunning for the action packed film that it is. The funhouse mirror shootout sequence and the shots of Hutch and Becca in the pool near the end are gorgeous. The pool scene looked like a live painting for a moment. I was blown away. The film’s setting at a theme park allows him to play with light in fun and interesting ways. I always enjoy some good neon lights in film and Nobody 2 is not short of them. I can’t wait to see more from cinematographer Callan Green who also lensed Jason Statham starring Beekeeper 2. Apparently he has a thing for sequels. Give him a camera and some lights and let him go to work.

Seeing Bob Odenkirk go from the guy who co-created the Matt Foley character with Chris Farley to suburbia’s John Wick has been nothing short of amazing. Odenkirk has shown his range from the aforementioned Mr. Show to his critically acclaimed performance as Saul Goodman in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. Nobody & Nobody 2 allow him to flex some muscles he doesn’t get to use very often. He’s such a likable guy that you can’t help but identify with the “every man” side of his character, just trying to bond with his family.

Connie Nielsen plays his wife Becca, who is desperate to spend some time with her husband who is away every night, working. She goes through a journey herself, finding her confidence and rebuilding her relationship with Hutch. She sees how Hutch’s life since the first film has affected their son Brady, and his newfound propensity for violence, and is determined to balance him out. She was great in the first film and I was happy to see her have more to do this time around.

Christopher Lloyd especially delighted me as he did in the first film. He steals the show. It helps that his intro in the film is basically him playing my dad. Socks up to his knees, a gaudy shirt, and cigar firmly between his teeth. After being told to put it out due to “secondhand smoke,” he laughs it off as non-existent before ultimately extinguishing the cigar in the palm of his hand. My dad to a T.

Also returning from the first film is RZA as Harry Mansell, Hutch’s brother. RZA is a great actor and I enjoy seeing him whenever he pops up in things. He was a blast to watch in the first film and has one of my favorite fight scenes in the entire movie. I was clapping and cheering watching him use a katana and he even gets to drop a line that from anyone else would come off corny, but from him comes off more sincere.

Joining the cast this time around is Colin Hanks as Able, the crooked and corrupt Sheriff that doesn’t take too kindly to Hutch’s presence. Watching Hanks play off type is wonderful. He quickly gets under your skin, and doesn’t crawl out until the climax of the film. You can’t help but laugh in the best way when you see it. Sharon Stone absolutely chews the scenery as the cartoonishly evil Lendina, the ruthless head of a crime syndicate using Hutch’s vacation spot for her own agenda like smuggling guns and biological weapons. It’s clear that Timo Tjahjanto let her loose and allowed her to have fun. It was over-the-top in the best way possible. John Ortiz rounds out the new cast as Wyatt Martin, the propitiator of the establishment who doesn’t appreciate Hutch’s presence. Right when you think you know what his character is going to be, the rug is pulled on his place in the story.

Overall, Nobody 2 is a blast, with many moments that will have you laugh, cheer and applaud. The fights are fun and exciting and less polished than Kolstad’s other intellectual property, the John Wick franchise, but that’s the point. Hutch is well trained and dangerous but he’s not John Wick. I’m glad that Odenkirk is getting the flowers he so richly deserves and I hope they make another if for no other reason than to see Christopher Lloyd mowing down bad guys with a machine gun.

Grade: A