Nobody (2021) Movie Review streaming on Binge.
There is no denying that John Wick revolutionised the Hollywood action film with its Asian martial-arts inspired, frantic action set pieces that was a much needed adrenaline shot to the genre. With the immense world building, epic-scaled violence, and sincere dramatic stakes, the next logical step was to take this new style of action and thrust it into a world of unassuming, everyday people. And who better to materialise that feeling than the most unassuming, everyday actor, Bob Odenkirk.
Odenkirk plays Hutch Mansell, a self-proclaimed and the titular Nobody, who is going through the stale, mundane motions of the second half of his life. His marriage to successful real estate wife, Becca (Connie Neilsen), his dead-end job, and constantly missing bin day, bring a sense of inadequacy to his existence. That’s only exacerbated when his home is broken into, and when he has a chance to strike back and protect his family, he doesn’t, leading to beratement from his son and everyone else who gets word of his lack of aggression.
What everyone doesn’t realise, is that a demon from Hutch’s past is awoken once more. Utilising a unique and violent set of skills from a time where he was an “auditor” (or an assassin for hire to the US Government), he tracks down those responsible for the crimes against his family, and lets out a little mid-life rage while doing so.
Odenkirk is inspired casting for this role, as his background in comedy and drama would never lend to the fact that he can kick some serious ass. But it’s his timid, mild-mannered demeanour that truly sells that insane combination of timidness and explosive violence. Hutch, despite his internalised feelings of inadequacy, is a really polite person to everyone, and Odenkirk delivers that feeling with authenticity. The antagonistic chemistry between Odenkirk and Nielsen is also fantastic. They don’t hate each other. In fact, they’re still very much in love, but the staleness of life has driven a wedge between them, and watching two actors of their calibre deliver that lays the foundation for the emotional stakes.
And then the bus scene happens. Hutch vs. a handful of hooligans causing grief on a bus. Fists are flying, holding poles are used as weapons, and Hutch is thrown out of a window. It’s a gnarly scene that successfully manages to take the frantic, John Wick style combat and bring a sense of humorous levity with sacrificing intensity. And that feeling is carried throughout the film, leading to an explosive climactic shootout that feels like Home Alone if Keanu Reeves was in the lead role instead.
It’s also the supporting cast that liven this world, giving Nobody that more light hearted atmosphere. Christopher Lloyd plays Hutch’s father, who spends his time in a care home, not talking to anyone. But when push comes to shove, Lloyd’s involvement in the action, even at his age, is delightfully unhinged to watch. RZA also appears as an acquaintance of Hutch, and their banter-filled chemistry is a lot of fun.
Nobody is an easy-watching, entertaining cavalcade of the wild action that John Wick popularised in American cinema, with Odenkirk bringing his every-man demeanour to the incredible likeable Hutch. It’s a fun, thrilling time at the movies.
Nobody (2021) is available to stream on Binge
