A Man Called Otto – The DVDfever Cinema Review – Tom Hanks

A Man Called Otto is a film that was always going to be hit or miss for me, because it’s based on a book, and it’s subsequent film, titled, A Man Called Ove, made in 2015, but which wasn’t released in the UK until 2017 and became my favourite film of that year.

Hence, in the lead role of Otto Anderson, Tom Hanks (Elvis) had a lot to live up to the original’s Rolf Lassgård (Downsizing).

In this one, we first see Otto going down to the hardware store, buying a number of items with which to hang himself, coming across more like a Victor Meldrew than a man who’s depressed at his recent wife’s death, a few months earlier, since he wants to buy just 5ft of rope, but due to their pricing structure, he still has to pay for 6ft, giving him an extra unwanted foot. And that’s after he’s had an argument with staff member Malcolm (Mack Bayda) about whether or not he can use a knife in the store.

Of course, in reality, you wouldn’t be allowed to take a knife into any public shop, but Otto asks if Malcolm thinks it might be because he’d injure himself(?)

In his usual day-to-day business, Otto’s a very officious man as he heads into retirement, dealing with cold-calls on the phone, and other annoying mundanities in life, but in general, he’s had enough and wants to join his wife.

However, like the original movie, he affixes the rope to the lounge ceiling and attempts to do what he thinks is necessary, although having left the front window curtains open, he can see right at the same inopportune moment, that new neighbours Marisol (Mariana Treviño) and Tommy (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo – The Lincoln Lawyer) are moving in next door with their children, with Tommy reverse-parking so badly that Otto just has to break away from what he’s doing and resolve it.

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There’s a flashback scene where a young Otto is shown how had an accidental meeting with his wife-to-be, Sonya (Rachel Keller) – in a change from the original film’s meeting, here, when she drops her book on the train station platform, and he rushes onto her train, having to go the wrong way along the track because it took off without him. Thanks to her fronting him some cash, they’re left with a quarter that’s very special to them both.

Otto is a man who doesn’t understand people can sometimes be nice, yet he may just learn this for himself, as along the way, he takes in a cat who refuses to leave, yet calls everyone ‘idiot’ except Marisol, who he learns to tolerate.

There are also some sweet moments as certain individuals come out of their shell, but overall, I insist you watch the original movie before you consider this one…. but you won’t.

Overall, A Man Called Otto is a bit soulless, and rather like A Man Called Ove: The Tribute Band Version.

A Man Called Otto is in cinemas now, and is available to pre-order on DVD and Amazon Prime 4K, but no other formats just yet.

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A Man Called Otto – Official Trailer – Sony Pictures Entertainment

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Detailed specs:

Cert:
Running time: 115 minutes
Release date: January 6th 2023
Studio: Sony Pictures Entertainment
Format: 1.85:1 (Super 35)
Cinema: Cineworld Didsbury
Rating: 5/10

Director: Marc Forster
Producers: Gary Goetzman, Tom Hanks, Fredrik Wikström, Rita Wilson
Screenplay: David Magee
Based on the Novel: Fredrik Backman (A Man Called Ove)
Based on the film: Hannes Holm
Music: Thomas Newman

Cast:
Otto Anderson: Tom Hanks
Sonya: Rachel Keller
Marisol: Mariana Treviño
Tommy: Manuel Garcia-Rulfo
Luna: Christiana Montoya
Abbie: Alessandra Perez
Malcolm: Mack Bayda
Jimmy: Cameron Britton
Anita: Juanita Jennings
Reuben: Peter Lawson Jones
Andy: Max Pavel
Barbs: Kailey Hyman
Beppo The Clown: Julian Manjerico
Officer Dudley: Jon Donahue
Young Anita: Emonie Ellison
Young Reuben: Lavel Schley
Influencer Julia: Josefine Lindegaard
Shari Kenzie: Kelly Lamor Wilson
Stimco Steel Boss: Peter Sipla
Child Otto Anderson: Bodhi Wilson
Otto’s Father: Ira Amyx
Lucas: Greg Allan Martin
Young Otto Anderson: Truman Hanks
Army Doctor: Jon Osbeck
Sarah, Train Ticketer: Elle Chapman
Train Conductor: Bryant Carroll
Dye & Merica Real Estate Agent: Mike Birbiglia
Hardware Store Clerk: John Higgins
Hardware Store Customer: Tony Bingham
Hardware Store Taylor: Lily Kozub

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