New director not enough to diversify ‘Nobody 2’ from predecessor
“Nobody 2” boasts some creative fight scenes, one of the most memorable taking place in an elevator. Bob Odenkirk, in the character of Hutch, bashes enemies with an elevator phone. Maria Masek | Contributing Illustrator
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Sliced, bloodied and handcuffed, Hutch Mansell (Bob Odenkirk) grabs his Zippo. Instead of lighting a cigarette, he presses it against his arm, cauterizing a wound. The opening of “Nobody 2” confirms the grit of its predecessor, “Nobody,” is back, but the scene’s familiarity reflects “Nobody 2”’s main issue: following the original’s template too closely.
The only glaring difference between Ilya Naishuller’s “Nobody” and Timo Tjahjanto’s “Nobody 2” — besides the director change — is Hutch’s nature. A former assassin, Hutch’s violent awakening is the focus of the first installment, while the second displays his inability to moderate his aggression.
The film itself, despite Hutch’s struggles, gracefully balances brutality and fun. But co-writers Derek Kolstad (creator of “John Wick”) and Aaron Rabin stay too comfortable with the script.
Hutch resumes contract killing to repay debt he gathered from burning an obshchak, a collective treasury for Russian organized crime groups, in the first film. Busy with assignments, Hutch constantly misses family events, frustrating his wife, Becca (Connie Nielsen).
To reconcile the Mansell’s familial bond, Hutch plans a trip to Wild Bill’s Majestic Midway and Waterpark. Odenkirk’s childhood trips to the Wisconsin Dells inspired Plummerville, the fictional town where the waterpark is.
Soon after arriving in Plummerville, Brady (Gage Munroe), Hutch’s son, fights another teenager in an arcade. Wyatt (John Ortiz), the owner of Wild Bill’s, and crooked Sheriff Abel (Colin Hanks) try to drive the family out of town, spoiling their vacation.
Though Wyatt and Abel antagonize the characters, Lendina (Sharon Stone) — a crime lord so ruthless even Don Vito Corleone would raise an eyebrow — has Plummerville in the palm of her hand and serves as the main villain.
Without the mystery surrounding Hutch, “Nobody 2” isn’t as tight as the original. Instead of methodically revealing tidbits — like his weapon expertise, Texas Hold’em tattoo and epic vinyl collection — the film leans into its creative combat scenes and new character introductions. Even with these, it’s lacking originality.
The opening scene received a nod of approval from my dad and I, but the continual imitation of the first flick got old very quickly.
The film opens and closes with Hutch in an interrogation room, Brady sports a black eye during the film and eventually, Hutch burns a pile of cash. During the climax, Hutch, Harry (RZA) — Hutch’s adopted brother who randomly shows up — and their father, David (Christopher Lloyd), booby trap a large-scale facility, preparing for dozens of gunmen.
Which “Nobody” film did I just describe? Both.
There are a few slick callbacks to the original, such as a painting from the antagonist’s collection in “Nobody” hanging in the Mansell’s home. But the lazy approach of “Nobody 2” makes the plot predictable at times.
The picture’s redeeming factors are its star-studded cast and improved action sequences.
Stone commands the screen as Lendina, delivering a truly cold-blooded performance. During her on-screen entrance, she replaces a blackjack dealer at her own casino and stabs a patron in the hand (Luca Brasi style).
Arguably my favorite character besides Hutch, Lloyd provides excellent comic relief as David. Lloyd has made a living off playing quirky characters, like “Doc” Brown and Uncle Fester, which translates into the “Nobody” series.
When the Mansells pick him up for the trip, David strides out of his retirement home sporting sandals, jorts, a Hawaiian shirt, dog tags, a bucket hat with jigs and a cigar. My dad (also David) and I cracked up in the theater, saying he would be the same way at 86 years old.
Odenkirk is the perfect fit for the character of Hutch. The 62-year-old readily flips the switch from subdued to intense. As a self-proclaimed family man, he has pure intentions at heart, but flies off the handles sometimes, even if for good reason. And Nielsen displays glimpses of badassery, nailing a bullseye at a carnival game, foreshadowing her pivotal role in the climax.
“Nobody 2” has a bigger budget compared to “Nobody,” and the crew put it to wonderful use. Not only are the fights more creative — Hutch uses an elevator telephone, a Whac-A-Mole hammer and a huge plastic duck head — but the camera work is too. The combat scenes are very snappy but smooth and almost rhythmic.
While the fight sequences are more creative than the original, they do feel ridiculous at times, taking away from the gritty feel of the first film. Although I enjoyed them, there aren’t any action segments quite as memorable as the bus scene in the first movie.
Instead of building a universe like the “John Wick” franchise, Kolstad is writing more standalone stories without recurring elements. Though this approach is a great move for the studio, giving them flexibility for future installments, it’s not so great for fans who seek depth.
With more of a family dynamic and the return of Hutch’s ferocious fighting, “Nobody 2” makes for a fantastic time and is an ultimate dad movie. However, it relies too heavily on the original’s plot points and is often stale.
