A Man Called Otto Movie Review

A Man Called Otto (2022)

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Written by: Fredrik Backman (based on the novel "En man som heter Ove" by), Hannes Holm (based on the film "En man som heter Ove" by), David Magee (screenplay by)
Directed by: Marc Forster
Starring: Tom Hanks, Mariana Treviño, Rachel Keller, Cameron Britton, Mike Birbiglia
Rated: PG-13
Watch the trailer

Plot
Otto is a grump who's given up on life following the loss of his wife and wants to end it all. When a young family moves in nearby, he meets his match in quick-witted Marisol, leading to a friendship that will turn his world around.

Verdict
It's formulaic nearly to a fault. This will be almost exactly what you expect. A grumpy guy has his life changed. While this is a bit long the familiar formula does pay off with a heartwarming, if not a bit manipulative, ending. Tom Hanks usually plays a likable guy, and his casting seems specific, but he's surpassed by Mariana Treviño. The tone for the first half is a strange juxtaposition of a rude old guy played for laughs and his serious desire to no longer live.
It depends.

Review
Tom Hanks playing grumpy is a change of pace as he usually plays the likable every man. Otto is a rigid rule follower to an annoying degree, but part of that is it lets him be mad at the world when it doesn't comply. He can then lash out with a flimsy reason for his anger. He's downright rude, and apparently no one calls him out on his behavior.

Tom Hanks plays Otto

A family moving in next door interrupts his plans. Otto's attitude is due to grief. It's so unbearable he shuts everything out to wallow in that grief. He no longer wants to live. It's clear where this is going from the start. This young family will change the heart and disposition of this grumpy old guy. This is an incredibly dark, and certainly difficult, subject as Otto makes multiple attempts. It's a strange combination of tones when the movie plays off Otto's grumpiness for comedy.

It's difficult to believe anyone could be this socially unaware, but throughout the movie this fills in Otto's backstory. It's also clear what the movie is doing. This is maximizing the emotional impact that will come later. Mariana Treviño does an excellent job as Marisol. It's rare for Hanks to not be the best actor in a movie, though that's becoming less rare. It feels like he's just playing a part. Treviño is impressive as she inhabits the character.

Mariana Treviño plays Marisol

Despite his mad at the world attitude Otto is a nice guy that does help but only when he can impose his rules of how a task should be done. His way is the only way. I wonder if anyone other than Marisol would put this much effort into befriending this wasn't a movie. This is sweet, maybe too much so due to being so predictable. This is a little long for what it is when it's clear where this is going. All of that is in service to the end of the movie where there are more than a couple emotional impacts. It's a well done movie if not a very familiar premise.