Hutch Mansell, following the events of the previous NOBODY film, finds himself in debt to his employers after he torched a cache of money belonging to Russian gangsters. Following into a rut doing these jobs, he takes a break from being a hired hitman to spend some time with his family in a vacation destination his father once took him to. But keeping Hutch from being Hutch and losing his temper is easier said than done, and when Hutch learns the destination town is a front for drug runners commanded by a ruthless woman in the business, he gets right back into doing what he does best, while still trying to show his family he’s a good husband and dad.
I honestly didn’t even see the first NOBODY until about a week ago, but it’s a very entertaining film I’m glad I finally got the chance to watch. The first movie was a modest success combining R-rated violence with hilarious humor; Bob Odenkirk definitely made the movie his own. NOBODY 2 offers more of the same with a change of venue… but that’s not a bad thing.
Much like its predecessor, Bob Odenkirk makes the movie. Derek Kolstad, creator of JOHN WICK, is once again in the writer’s seat, but makes this series and its hero decidedly different than Keanu Reeves’ titular character in that other series. While that character was born and bred to be an assassin. Odenkirk’s Hutch is a man juggling the assassin life with the family man life. The two intersect all too often, much to the chagrin of those around him. When this guy goes off, all hell breaks loose, and the R-rated violence hits its highs. NOBODY 2 takes stylized action violence and turns it into an art form, and an often laugh-out-loud one. Mr. Odenkirk has found the role he was born to play. If there’s NOBODY 3, you know I’ll be first in line.
Thankfully, the supporting cast is just as good, including newcomers like Colin Hanks as a corrupt law enforcement officer and Sharon Stone as the leader of a criminal empire; while these villains won’t score any points for originality, they’re at least more entertaining than the generic Russian mobsters from the first movie. Also, hats off to the screenwriters for giving Christopher Lloyd, who plays Hutch’s father, more screen time this time around. The movie’s all the better for it.
NOBODY 2 doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it doesn’t have to. The change of venue works wonders for the Mansell Family, and seeing them in a small town that views them as outcasts and is a truly corrupt and dangerous place makes for some violent and hilarious scenes alike. Instead of Hutch wreaking havoc on a public bus, we get him fighting on an amphibious vehicle. Thankfully, none of this comes at the expense of the family relationships in the film. How many other movies can preach family togetherness while also being a bloodbath?
NOBODY 2 isn’t a masterpiece or the most original thing in the world, but it’s a hilarious and ultra-violent sequel that manages to one-up its entertaining predecessor. Bob Odenkirk steals the show, and the supporting cast and ultra-violent set pieces and humor all mesh together far better than they should. Definitely go on this family vacation, but leave the kids at home.