By Keith Walther | Rose Law Group Reporter
While he may be an unlikely action star, nobody packs a punch quite like Bob Odenkirk, and those punches land once again. “Nobody 2” is the sequel to that surprising one-person army success from 2021, picking up right where it left off. The story is overly simple, the side characters are underdeveloped, but the action is non-stop and entertaining as all get out.
After the events of the first film, Hutch Mansell (Bob Odenkirk) is forced back into his old assassin life to pay off the significant debt he incurred. His wife, Becca (Connie Nielsen), has been supportive but his lessening hours at home has taken its toll. Realizing he’s losing touch with Becca, and his children, Brady (Gage Munroe) and Sammy (Paisley Cadorath), Hutch takes them along with Grandpa David (Christopher Lloyd) on an overdue family vacation. What could possibly go wrong?
Hutch takes them to an old amusement park in Plummerville, where he had his best memories as a kid. As luck would have it, a lot has changed since then as he crosses paths with the corrupt Sheriff Abel (Colin Hanks) and psychotic crime boss Lendina (Sharon Stone). With his family’s lives at stake, the gloves come off, and Hutch will go to whatever lengths he has to in order to protect them with a little help again from his dad and brother Harry (RZA).
Directed by Indonesian filmmaker Timo Tjahjanto, “Nobody 2” is a basic sequel that foregoes story and character development in favor of unadulterated action. The fight sequences are fast and frequent that build up to a fireworks style finale, leaving audiences breathless and giddy with bloodlust. With the writer of the “John Wick” films, Derek Kolstad, penning this script, Timo finds his creativity in these well-choreographed fight scenes with inventive kill methods using an assortment of tools and weaponry that are unique yet believable. Setting up the booby traps throughout the amusement park is a nice touch that provides that extra explosive entertainment.
Timo’s fast pacing and propensity for violence certainly negates any lulls but leaves him vulnerable to plot holes and predictability. While the first film does a terrific job of developing the main character as the reluctant action hero, Timo wastes little time on character development in this sequel. With a runtime just under one and a half hours, he could have easily incorporated additional scenes to make these characters more three-dimensional, especially the villains who are run-of-the-mill baddies with simplistic motives. However, he simply focuses on enhancing the fun from the first film, and to that end, he succeeds.
Who would’ve thought long-time comedian Bob Odenkirk would make a solid action film star? The actor, who made his fame as Jimmy McGill in “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul,” is surprisingly believable as the nondescript, no-nonsense family man with a violent temperament. It is all because of his tremendous work ethic in preparing for this role. He underwent months of rigorous training in martial arts and hand-to-hand combat to handle a majority of his own stunts in the first film, and he continued that regimen for the sequel. Bob still incorporates his roots as a comedian, infusing his character with a darkly humorous side that provides most of the comic relief in this movie.
The supporting cast contains many of the same actors reprising their roles from the first movie, with Connie Nielsen shining above the rest, unveiling a tougher side to her character in this sequel. Christopher Lloyd is nearly 87 years old now and he continues to delight with his screen presence. Oscar nominated actress Sharon Stone (“Casino”) is silly and over the top as the primary antagonist, but with a lack of screen time and substandard writing, it is all she could really do to stand out in a meaningful way.
While it may not have the plot intricacies and character development of the first film, this sequel doubles down on the brutal violence and explosive action to provide a fun-filled ride. “Nobody 2” delivers exactly what it promises, quality, fast-paced fight sequences with a humorous undertone that doesn’t require much in the way of brain activity. If you’re in the mood for a solid, one-person army action flick, then you had better call Bob.
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