Film Snail

A Man Called Otto
A Man Called Otto

7.8

A Man Called Otto

PG-13·2022·126m

Summary

When a lively young family moves in next door, grumpy widower Otto Anderson meets his match in a quick-witted, pregnant woman named Marisol, leading to an unlikely friendship that turns his world upside down.

Cast

Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks

Otto Anderson

Mariana Treviño

Mariana Treviño

Marisol

Rachel Keller

Rachel Keller

Sonya

John Higgins

John Higgins

Hardware Store Clerk

Tony Bingham

Hardware Store Customer

Lily Kozub

Lily Kozub

Hardware Store Taylor

Mack Bayda

Mack Bayda

Malcolm

Cameron Britton

Cameron Britton

Jimmy

Juanita Jennings

Juanita Jennings

Anita

Peter Lawson Jones

Peter Lawson Jones

Reuben

Max Pavel

Max Pavel

Andy

Kailey Hyman

Kailey Hyman

Barb

Peter Sipla

Peter Sipla

Stimco Steel Boss

Patrick Stanny

Stimco Steel Terry

Dominick Marrone

Stimco Steel Co-Worker #1

Allyson R. Hood

Stimco Steel Co-Worker #2

Kristy Nolen

Stimco Steel Worker #3

Carl Clemons

Carl Clemons

Stimco Steel Worker #4

Connor McCanlus

Stimco Steel Worker #5

Cindy Jackson

Cindy Jackson

Delivery Person

Manuel Garcia-Rulfo

Manuel Garcia-Rulfo

Tommy

Christiana Montoya

Christiana Montoya

Luna

Alessandra Perez

Alessandra Perez

Abbie

Bodhi Wilson

Child Otto

Ira Amyx

Ira Amyx

Otto's Father

Greg Allan Martin

Greg Allan Martin

Lucas

Truman Hanks

Truman Hanks

Young Otto

Jon Osbeck

Jon Osbeck

Army Doctor

Elle Chapman

Elle Chapman

Sarah, Train Ticketer

Bryant Carroll

Bryant Carroll

Train Conductor '73

Mike Birbiglia

Mike Birbiglia

Dye & Merica Real Estate Agent

Julian Manjerico

Julian Manjerico

Beppo The Clown

Jon Donahue

Jon Donahue

Officer Dudley

Aaron Marcus

Aaron Marcus

Train Station Businessman

Jeff Hochendoner

Jeff Hochendoner

Burly Train Commuter

Vance Tinsley

Train Commuter #1

Clay Davis

Train Commuter #2

Jared Frenke

Train Commuter #3

James Peyton

James Peyton

Train Commuter #4

Josephine Valentina Clark

Josephine Valentina Clark

Influencer Abbey

Josefine Lindegaard

Josefine Lindegaard

Influencer Julia

Kathleen Regan

Train Station Commuter #5

Micah Southwood

Train Station Mother

Hunter Southwood

Train Station Child

Spenser Granese

Spenser Granese

Nick (Driving Lesson Muscle Head)

Emonie Ellison

Young Anita

Lavel Schley

Lavel Schley

Young Reuben

Kelly Lamor Wilson

Kelly Lamor Wilson

Shari Kenzie

David Magee

David Magee

Dye & Merica Rep '83

William Paul Clark

Dye & Merica Agent #2 '83

Rachel Layne

Dye & Merica Secret Agent

Mark Philip Stevenson

Funeral Minister

Joe Fishel

Joe Fishel

Doctor (uncredited)

Gina Aponte

Gina Aponte

Train Rider (uncredited)

Crew

Director

Marc Forster

Novel

Fredrik Backman

Original Film Writer

Hannes Holm

Screenplay

David Magee

Reviews

Geronimo1967

Geronimo1967

January 9, 2023

7

Fans of the BBC sitcom "One Foot in the Grave" might recognise something of the "Victor Meldrew" in Tom Hanks' portrayal of the eponymous curmudgeon. Formerly head of the community association, he takes it upon himself each morning to do his "rounds" - checking the gates are closed, the permits are displayed, the recycling is correct - all pretty anal, really. A combination of circumstances are about to rock his rather pedestrian world, though. He is laid off after thirty-odd years at work, a deed which renders him pretty rudderless; and he gets new neighbours - "Marisol" (Mariana Treviño), husband "Tommy" (Manuel Garcia-Ruffo) and their two daughters. Now their arrival causes him no end of irritation (and, if truth be told - for me too!). The family are pretty hapless and soon "Otto" finds himself helping them out and gradually, her forceful and annoying character starts to morph into something more accommodating and he begins to feel just a tad useful. Now it ought to be said that most of this story evolves against a backdrop of attempts by the older man to kill himself. There is humour to be had here, as well a rather nuanced message illustrating the effects of loneliness and a general resignation that the fruitful section of his life is finished. Gradually using "Marisol" and a few other neighbours as conduits, we learn of the tragedies that have led him to his current predicament, and to a position where there might just be a new light at the end of his tunnel. From a character perspective, I preferred the "Otto" at the start of the film. A rather bitter and amusingly sarcastic figure, but as the plot develops we lose that sharpness, the story becomes a little too cluttered and I found the initial poignancy falls away as a rather sentimental degree of melodrama edges into it all. Still, Hanks offers a strong performance and after her distinctly annoying start I found myself increasingly engaged with the whole family across the road who might just offer "Otto" some validation and/or salvation. It's also a remarkable understatedly inclusive film. This community has all sorts of colours, shapes and sizes - and "Otto" for all his faults, has no truck with discrimination. This inclusiveness is delivered to us quietly as if it is all no big deal. A more productive and subtle method than many offering the screamingly obvious box-ticking characterisations. It's essentially a remake of the more characterful "A Man Called Ove" (2015) - a Swedish film with the excellently cast Rolf Lassgård in the title role, but it's still well worth a watch.

Media

Status:

Released

Original Language:

English

Budget:

$50,000,000.00

Revenue:

$108,961,677.00

Keywords

friendship
based on novel or book
suicide attempt
flashback
remake
miscarriage
new neighbor
social media
forced retirement
death of wife
bus accident
grumpy man
loss of wife
transgender
happy marriage