Hey guys and welcome to a brand new review! For this one, I will be taking a look at an action sequel, one that I have been anticipating for quite some time. Nobody 2 is the follow up to the 2021 small scale sleeper hit, with the main gimmick being getting to see Bob Odenkirk (AKA Saul Goodman for those Breaking Bad fans) beat the ever living crap out of people as a seemingly normal due who turns out to be anything but. It was a solid box office win given the time it was released (theaters were still in the process of re opening) making over $57 million worldwide on a $15 million budget, and was seemingly an even bigger success on PVOD and streaming. I myself, am a big fan of that first film as I found it to be a very entertaining and well executed premise with some great action and a wonderful lead performance. Just like The Bad Guys, when one asks which recent movie I’ve wanted a follow up to, Nobody comes to mind instantly as I would love to see more adventures with Hutch (funny how both these films had follow ups in the same month). Now that Hutch is back, was this able to warrant my enthusiasm for this being a franchise. Let’s jump right in and see what this vacation is all about!
Taking place after the events of the first film, we see Hutch Mansell going about doing assassin jobs for The Barber in order to pay off his debt that owes after destroying the Russian obschak in the original. As a result, he isn’t spending as much time with his family with their relationship becoming pretty distant, much to the concern of his wife, Becca. Acknowledging this, Hutch decides to take a break from this life and puts together a family road trip to Plummerville, a small town complete with a water park, that he went to when he was little. However once there, things take a turn when Hutch gets into a fight at an arcade and soon discovers that there is more to this town than meets the eye.
It appears two films in, we already have something of a formula for this franchise. Hutch tries his best to do something normal, something happens that makes him snap, all hell breaks loose soon after (or at least this is the simplified version). I have to say that I approve of this format as it both times it has led to something very enjoyable. Nobody 2 is the kind of a follow up that succeeds by understanding what made the first one work and making sure to maintain that as it is a short and unassuming affair that gets in and out, delivering what it promises efficiently. The main plot line is simple, yet also set up nicely with the stakes established very well, with tension being more of a factor, given how it seems any authority figure in this town could be no good, meaning Hutch has to look out more carefully. While definitely comedic in many places and there are some good laughs throughout, director, Timo Tjahjanto (filling in for Ilyua Naishuller), has a solid grasp of the tone, making sure that the emotional beats manage to work and they land effectively. I really like how the film explores more of Hutch’s family relationship and how he wants to be a better dad and give his family the experiences he wished he had gotten as a kid. Plus, the family road trip vibe is a neat added elements that gives this film a unique vibe, almost like National Lampoon’s Vacation in an action sandbox.
There’s a common theme throughout the film of parents wanting their kids to be better and not make the same mistakes that might have affected them in some way shape or form, something that fits well considering who Hutch is. I appreciate that the consequences of his actions are actually dealt with here and that it does try to interrogate the violent wish fulfillment fantasy of the original with Hutch actually trying to stay out of conflict, while still having its cake and eating it too in also being a very fun action picture. Now, I do think the first film was a bit sharper in regards to the script as the dialogue is a little iffy in places and can get into some repetitive places (count how many times, Hutch says something about “making memories”). I also do think that the story is a bit more thin this time out, however making this as short as it is prevents this from feeling overlong in a way that makes that aspect stand out. Those are just some things that I think hold it back a tad from being as strong as the original, but there is still a lot to like here.
According to those deep in the action movie sphere, Tjahjanto is known very well in the Indonesian action scene, allegedly known for helming some truly wild set pieces in the likes of The Night Comes for Us and The Shadow Strays. This makes him an interesting and exciting pick to helm Nobody 2, which is his first foray into Hollywood and while I’m sure this doesn’t quite go to the levels that his other films go, I still think he does a great job here. I will admit that the level of brutality when it comes to the kills is upped a bit as bodies are mutilated in different ways and parts do end up flying at some points as well. It seems Tjahjanto has a knack for taking normal everyday environments and seeing what kinds of violent scenarios can arise in them. The waterpark setting is used to great effect with some truly inventive traps that feel like something straight out of an R-rated take on Home Alone and even the scenes that feel reminiscent of the original (the duck boat brawl feels like a riff on the bus scene from the first), there is still enough new and interesting to those parts that they stand on their own very well. The fight choreography is well done and does the job in showcasing just how effective Hutch is in a fight despite his age, using his strengths to their greatest abilities and in general the stunt work put into these films is just very impressive, with the 62 year old Odenkirk showing amazing commitment to acting out some cool fighting moves.The film also just has a more playful look to it than the darker hues of the first one, as the colors pop out more and capture the seemingly joyous feel of this vacation destination, though we do get some really cool looking shots here and there that show the effort put into making this more than just a standard throwaway action film.
Also helping elevate this series above others of its ilk is the fact that we have a highly skilled thespian in Bob Odenkirk as the face of the series and it really isn’t hard to see why he is such a well regarded performer. He both sells the the every man side to Hutch as well as the highly trained assassin part of him and one can sense the exasperation he has at constantly having to use be in latter mode. Odenkirk plays “awkward introvert” very well, which is one reason why I like Hutch as he doesn’t come off like a normal action hero and it highlights just how much his job defines who he is, whether he likes it or not. He’s a pretty relatable character in this regard and his love for his family being genuine goes a long way in making more than who he thinks he is. Speaking of which, I did greatly appreciate the expansion of Becca’s role with Connie Nielson getting more screen time and more to do than be concerned about her husband as we see more of them trying to make things better, and one can understand her frustration and fear of Hutch becoming an absentee family member. Seeing more of their relationship was nice and there are some wonderful pay off in the finale that hone in on that aspect in a way that I thought was perfectly handled. Their kids, Brady (Gage Munroe), and Sammy (Paisley Cadorath) are mostly just there for Hutch’s arc but they also have a bit more to do with Brady getting a nice arc regarding not making the same mistakes as his father.
I was definitely very happy to see the other prominent members of the Mansell family show up as I found them to be a highlight of the first. Once again, I get a kick out of Christopher Lloyd as a giddy old man shooting people up in the form of Hutch’s dad, David, as the 86 year old actor seems to be having the time of his life and I do like the touch of him actually learning from his mistakes of when he was a dad in being a very nice grandfather. RZA also comes back as Hutch’s step brother, Harry, who is also fun in his fairly limited (in comparison) screentime and I like seeing his transformation into a master of the sword, while Colin Salmon reprises his role as Hutch’s former government handler, “The Barber”, who is there to give some information, but deliver it with much oomph.
As for the new characters I found them to be welcome additions with some great actors behind them. John Ortiz gives more than required as Wyatt, the park’s operator, as he really conveys the complicated emotions this guy feels about running a corrupt drug organization as a product of his father’s actions. There are some nice parallels between him and Hutch that add a bit more substance to the proceedings, while making me wonder where things may go. Colin Hanks is also very good as Abel, a corrupt sheriff, who gives a good tough guy image, but deep down is very much a pathetic coward who doesn’t really know what he’s doing. The big bad of it all though is Sharon Stone (nice to see her in a big movie like this), who hams it up big time as the mastermind behind it all, Lendina. Stone walks a fine line between being comically over the top and genuinely threatening, willing to go to any lengths to get what she wants no matter how many people she’ll kill and she revels in it all. The character is fairly basic as far as motivation, but the sheer enthusiasm Stone brings makes her pop and then some.
Overall, I had a very good time with Nobody 2, as it is a worthy follow up to its predecessor. It’s not quite as sharp script wise, copies elements from the first and has a fairly thin plot, but it’s well paced, manages to have a distinct feel from the first, is often funny, has some nice exploration of it themes, has inventive action, and we get some great performances from everyone involved. It’s the kind of movie that in different hands, could’ve felt a lot trashier and conventional, but thanks to the talent involved it becomes a very fun watch that I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish. If you like the first, then you’ll more likely than not enjoy this one as well and if one is just in the mood for a good action flick that delivers some well made thrills, this is a nice option. As far as these “one man army” type action flicks go, these films are definitely among the better in that space I feel as they succeed at what they set out to do and feel like throwbacks to the kind films we’d see more often in the 90s. I’m glad we were able to get at least one sequel out of Nobody and heck if Odenkirk wants to do a third, I certainly ain’t complaining. Though he probably should take a break as everyone does need a vacation (as Hutch can attest to).
Rating: B+
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