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.
Tom Hanks
Otto Anderson
Mariana Treviño
Marisol
Rachel Keller
Sonya
John Higgins
Hardware Store Clerk
Tony Bingham
Hardware Store Customer
Lily Kozub
Hardware Store Taylor
Mack Bayda
Malcolm
Cameron Britton
Jimmy
Juanita Jennings
Anita
Peter Lawson Jones
Reuben
Max Pavel
Andy
Kailey Hyman
Barb
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
Stimco Steel Worker #4
Connor McCanlus
Stimco Steel Worker #5
Cindy Jackson
Delivery Person
Manuel Garcia-Rulfo
Tommy
Christiana Montoya
Luna
Alessandra Perez
Abbie
Bodhi Wilson
Child Otto
Ira Amyx
Otto's Father
Greg Allan Martin
Lucas
Truman Hanks
Young Otto
Jon Osbeck
Army Doctor
Elle Chapman
Sarah, Train Ticketer
Bryant Carroll
Train Conductor '73
Mike Birbiglia
Dye & Merica Real Estate Agent
Julian Manjerico
Beppo The Clown
Jon Donahue
Officer Dudley
Aaron Marcus
Train Station Businessman
Jeff Hochendoner
Burly Train Commuter
Vance Tinsley
Train Commuter #1
Clay Davis
Train Commuter #2
Jared Frenke
Train Commuter #3
James Peyton
Train Commuter #4
Josephine Valentina Clark
Influencer Abbey
Josefine Lindegaard
Influencer Julia
Kathleen Regan
Train Station Commuter #5
Micah Southwood
Train Station Mother
Hunter Southwood
Train Station Child
Spenser Granese
Nick (Driving Lesson Muscle Head)
Emonie Ellison
Young Anita
Lavel Schley
Young Reuben
Kelly Lamor Wilson
Shari Kenzie
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
Doctor (uncredited)
Gina Aponte
Train Rider (uncredited)
Director
Marc Forster
Novel
Fredrik Backman
Original Film Writer
Hannes Holm
Screenplay
David Magee
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.