Photo via Magnolia Pictures
By Keith Walther | Rose Law Group Reporter
After the success of the two “Nobody” films, Bob Odenkirk seems to be the newest go to actor for one-man-army action flicks, and you know what? It works. “Normal” is basically a neo-Western thriller with a Jack Reacher type of storyline. It’s simple, it’s action-packed, it’s fast paced, and it has funny moments throughout to make it a satisfying experience of entertainment.
When the local sheriff suddenly dies in Normal, Minnesota, Ulysses Richardson (Bob Odenkirk) is called upon to serve as the interim sheriff until a new election can be held. What appears to be an easy gig in a small, sleepy town becomes chaos when a couple interlopers decide to rob the local bank. Sinister secrets are exposed, causing an immediate escalation of explosive proportions amongst the entire town with the hapless sheriff caught squarely in the middle.
English director Ben Wheatley has had his struggles when it comes to making quality motion pictures with 2023’s “Meg 2: The Trench” being one of his more recent follies. However, this simplistic action plot appears to be more his speed, executing the familiar formula in a way that gives fans of this genre exactly what they want. If this story feels oddly familiar to the two “Nobody” films, that is because Derek Kolstad, who wrote the scripts to those previous movies, penned the screenplay with Bob Odenkirk. There may be nothing creative with the story, but Wheatley inserts a frenetic pacing of action sequences with uniquely humorous kills that bring the spice to such an ordinary dish. Whether being pancaked by a car or death by knitting needle, there is no shortage of surprising, outlandish violence that should be sufficient enough to quench action junkies’ desire.
Despite the fun and comedic bursts of violence, Wheatley does neglect character development and key explanations to particular plot points that leave behind gaping holes that may cause confusion and annoyance. For instance, how the Yakuza fits into this story is poorly relayed, making it feel forced for the sake of bringing in additional bad guys to kill. There are also several backstories that are hinted but then forgotten as Wheatley opts for chaos. While there are plenty of faults to be found, the intense, stylized gunplay with a kinetic type of cinematography accentuates an almost cartoonish feel to the violence, underscored by the percussive sound design. This almost forgives the lack of attention to detail and mundane predictability…almost.
Once again Bob Odenkirk elevates this movie above its weight class as he did in the “Nobody” films. The reason is he brings his familiar brand of deadpan comedy that depends on the juxtaposition of his unassuming “everyman” persona mixed with a surprisingly lethal skill set similar to Keanu Reeves’ portrayal as John Wick. Fortunately for the aging veteran, there is a lot less hand-to-hand combat in this film, instead relying more on shootout scenes and circumstantial kills. He supplies his character with needed depth, alternating between a mild-mannered, carefree demeanor and a thousand-yard stare that reveals an insight into his character’s past trauma. This creates a likable protagonist that makes viewers want him to prevail.
The rest of the cast is largely forgettable with no one able to fashion their character into something more than the one-dimensional cardboard cutout they were written as. Henry Winkler has an amusing, albeit short role as the mayor of this town, and Lena Headey of “Game of Thrones” fame plays the local bartender. The rest of the more significant roles are played by veteran actors who have never been able to break through the business with serious talent.
This is a simple, straightforward action film catering to fans of the genre who crave violent entertainment without having to expend any brain cells. Don’t expect “Normal” to be as good as “Nobody,” but you should be able to enjoy yourself well enough if you liked those films. It should at least tide you over until the next Jason Statham movie comes out towards the end of summer.
This movie earns:
