It seems like these days actors nearing their seventies have to make a drama comedy about nearing the end of their lives. Hell, Jack Nicholson gave us “About Schmidt” and “The Bucket List,” and Robert DeNiro had “The Intern.” With Tom Hanks we have “A Man Call Otto” which is basically his “About Schmidt.” He lends his talents to a sad tale of a widow trying to find a way to move on from the love of his life. It’s shockingly a pet project for the Hanks fam that is just fine when all is said and done. It’s not Tom Hanks’ masterpiece, but just a fine outing for the man who can do roles like this in his sleep.
A remake of “A Man Called Ove,” and an adaptation of the book of the same name written by Frederik Backman, “A Man Called Otto” tells the story of Otto Anderson (Tom Hanks), a grumpy widower whose only joy comes from criticizing and judging his exasperated neighbors. When a lively young family moves in next door, he meets his match in quick-witted and very pregnant Marisol and her very welcoming brood; this leads to an unexpected friendship that will turn his world upside-down and give him a new perspective.
“A Man Called Otto” is saccharine and a bit convoluted, but I admit I had a pretty good time with it. Tom Hanks is the life blood of a movie that stumbles on occasion, playing a man who has all but given up on happiness. After his wife dies suddenly, he is prepared to take his own life, but that is consistently interrupted by his failed efforts and all too friendly neighbors. The movie takes a turn when we meet Marisol, her husband Tommy, and their pair of daughters. As they befriend the curmudgeonly Otto, he gradually warms up to them, finding potential in them that was never quite realized with his own relationship.
The film is a bit crowded with the flashbacks and side storylines, but Marc Forster’s film skirts along pretty smoothly. That’s probably thanks to the collective cast, including Mariana Treviňo who is absolutely charming as the busy bee mother Marisol. She manages to become a foil to Otto, killing him with kindness and conveying a sense of companionship that Otto sorely misses. Cameron Britton is also very good as the goofy neighbor Tommy, who always manages to break through Otto’s grouchy temperament. The movie jumps through a lot of plot with Otto’s intent on committing suicide, flashbacks to the lovely romance between him (Truman Hanks is solid in the role) and his wife Sonya (Rachel Keller), his friendship with a feral cat, and so much more.
It inevitably feels kind of messy, but the messiness eventually adds to the film’s inherent charm by the time it closes. Hanks can do performances like this in his sleep, and while 2022 wasn’t his shining hour, “A Man Called Otto” is a nice simplistic drama comedy for such a skilled actor such as him. While many might find the film syrupy sweet on most occasions, I was taken with the love story told through flashbacks, as well as the overtone of ageism and gentrification. I don’t know if I’d call “A Man Called Otto” one of Hanks’ best, but it’s a good vehicle if you’re in the mood for some belly laughs and good cries.
In Wide Release January 13th.