Jay Rohr
Nobody 2 proves that recycling can be a good thing. Although this follow-up doesn’t take many risks with its material, sticking to its core concept provides a satisfying sequel. The result is a good time full of pleasing punchlines delivered by sharp tongues and furious fists.The story picks up sometime after the first film.
The Mansell family has resettled in another part of quiet U.S. suburbia. However, Hutch (Bob Odenkirk) is once again becoming estranged from his loved ones due to his obsessive devotion to work as a secret government assassin. To remedy the situation, he recommends a family vacation to a theme park he once visited as a child. Unfortunately, it isn’t long before they attract the attention of dangerous smugglers using the dilapidated resort as cover. Suffice it to say, the vacation gets cut short as Hutch, a veritable one-man army, goes to war.
Humor is one of the main strengths in Nobody 2. Delightfully absurd circumstances are abound, but what makes scenarios laugh out loud funny are the characters’ reactions. Even when these tend towards violence, situations remain comedic overall. Plus, Nobody 2 isn’t bogged down by meta commentary. There’s a certain earnest quality to the movie insofar as it wants to be entertaining instead of ironically snarky.
That said, don’t worry about Nobody 2 taking itself too seriously. Being a sequel, the movie knows how to lean into implications which produce anticipation. Having seen the first film, it’s hard not to chuckle when Hutch glares at someone being rude to his family. At risk of being terribly Midwestern, there’s a dark comedic glee knowing impoliteness will not go unpunished. At the same time, there’s a certain sentimental charm to watching the family try to have fun at a theme park well beyond its best days.
Director Timo Tjahjanto pilots a script by Aaron Rabin and Derek Kolstad. The Indonesian filmmaker cut his teeth as part of the award-winning directing duo The Mo Brothers (Headshot), and Kolstad wrote Scorn, the original title for John Wick, as well as the first Nobody installment. Stylistically, Nobody 2 plays it safe. Nothing here is attempting to reinvent the wheel, but everything is shot sharply enough to capture the necessary elements. What makes even the simplest camerawork stand out is a splendid cast.
Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul) returns as Hutch Mansell. The comedy veteran knows how to make the slightest expression carry tons of implication. Connie Nielsen (Gladiator II) reprises the role of the Mansell matriarch, Becca. Though given slivers to suggest depths, the part would fall dreadfully short of compelling without her performance. The rest of the Mansell clan, portrayed again by Paisley Cadorath and Gage Munroe, keep the film running smoothly. However, their roles remain minimal despite the script’s implications of a family centered narrative.
Sharon Stone (The Laundromat) brings the sinister Lendina to life. Occasionally, she seems to be channeling Sam Rockwell, yet the role remains no less her own. Colin Hanks (And Mrs.) is solid as a corrupt sheriff chronically unaware he does not hold the upper hand. John Ortiz (American Fiction) rounds out the villains with the intriguingly sympathetic theme park owner. He helps secure the notion of people caught in circumstances that are against their intentions yet problems entirely of their own making.
One of the movie’s few flaws is how filmmakers utilize the double-edge sword most sequels wield. On the one hand, anticipating familiarity allows them to hit the ground running. This gets the audience to the action quicker. However, shifting towards a speedier plot pace sacrifices many moments the first feature excelled at. There’s little time to dwell on what’s going on, the consequences for characters, and while Nobody 2 doesn’t lose all its emotional embers, it rarely builds flames.
Additionally, a lot of the notions this movie wants to delve into get touched on in passing rather than a deep dive. For instance, Nobody used an action-comedy route to explore suburban ennui alongside midlife dissatisfaction. The sequel wants to consider that any excessive routine can drain life of its luster. This then leads into the plot direction that, despite now having a fulfilling occupation, Odenkirk’s Hutch is becoming estranged from his family once again due to being a bit of a workaholic. Granted, the film justifies his obsessive work ethic, but the idea of this sequel being a family affair falls by the wayside.
Saving his marriage, teaching his son not to be like him, and making memories with his family all disappear as the story centers solely on Hutch. The result is that Nobody 2 stops being about anything other than mayhem. Characters played by Christopher Lloyd (I am Not a Serial Killer) and even Connie Nielsen become painfully secondary rather than integral parts of the plot. Fortunately, the choreographed carnage is splendid.
The movie largely recycles certain elements from the last outing. Some of the more polished pieces and slow burn beauties get lost in the process. However, Nobody 2 is no less satisfying. This sequel manages to hit all the marks that make an action-comedy compelling.
Nobody 2 features a wonderful combo composed of well-stylized violence that is brutal yet oddly humorous. Great jokes, stylish violence, and the quirky ability to blend the two humorously are enhanced by solid performances. This is an entertaining sequel, especially for fans of the first. The sequel may not surpass its progenitor, but it stands on its own. Audiences are just as likely to gasp in shock as they are to giggle. While the final set piece isn’t as grandly satisfying as the first film, it is no less epic. Nobody 2 certainly knows how to pack a punch.
