Nobody is action-packed, brutally violent, and, while not entirely believable, satisfyingly entertaining.
As a reviewer, it is sometimes difficult to convey what makes a film worth watching without ruining the film for potential viewers. This is especially true when a movie reveals itself as something I didn’t expect it to be. Something more enjoyable or unpredictable or just completely unexpected. 2021’s Nobody, directed by Ilya Naishuller (Hardcore Henry) and written by Derek Kolstad (John Wick), is one such movie. I went in expecting one thing and received something entirely different.
As promoted, Nobody tells the story of Hutch Mansell (Bob Odenkirk), a man who exists but means little to anyone. When robbers break into the house he shares with his wife, daughter, and son, he does nothing to stop them. When news of his impotence gets out, it reinforces his weakling image to his neighbors, friends, and co-workers. That is, until his daughter can’t find her kitty cat bracelet. When she asks if they stole it, Hutch suddenly becomes a man of action.
There’s much more to the story, but I will leave that to those reading this to discover. What I will say is that Nobody is action-packed, brutally violent, and, while not entirely believable, satisfyingly entertaining.
The multi-talented Bob Odenkirk delivers an outstanding performance as the enigmatic Hutch. As different facets of the character are revealed, Odenkirk’s body language mirrors them. As the movie opens, one would not associate him with an action hero persona. When the movie closes, his transformation is complete and unquestioned.
A successful action movie needs a formidable foe and Nobody delivers with Aleksey Serebryakov as Yulian Kuznetsov, a Russian mobster. Simultaneously flamboyant and frightening, Kuznetsov exudes a confident presence in every scene in which he appears. Strong support from Christopher Lloyd and RZA as Hutch’s father and friend, respectively, only helps the movie gain traction in the likability department. (It’s good to see the always-welcome Michael Ironside in a small role too.)
Nobody is best seen without knowing much about it at all. It packs a wallop and yet does so endearingly. One of the better action movies to come out in quite a while.
4.0 out of 5.0 stars
