Port Arthur couple wanted on drug,money laundering and conspiracy charges
Starring Bob Odenkirk, Connie Niesen, Sharon Stone, Colin Hanks, Michael Ironside, RZA, Gage Monroe, Paisley Cadorath and Christopher Lloyd
The original "Nobody" was a surprise hit when it was released in 2021. Not only was it not on the list of the year's most anticipated blockbuster movies, but very few people thought of star Bob Odenkirk as an action hero.
That all changed when the movie proved to be a modest box office success, as well as a genuine crowd pleaser. Which of course means that the sequel, "Nobody 2" is pummeling its way into theaters this weekend.
The basic premise remains in play for the sequel. Odenkirk plays Hutch, an unassuming guy who just happens to be a lethal assassin. Bad guys make the mistake of thinking that they can walk all over Hutch, only to find out that the man has a talent for delivering a beating.
This time around, Hutch takes his family on vacation, and while he's trying to be nice, his ire is piqued when an arcade manager messes with his daughter (Paisley Cadorath). He retaliates by beating the manager and his henchmen employees, but this attracts the attention of local police (Colin Hanks and Michael Ironside) as well as a crazy crime boss (Sharon Stone).
Never fear. Hutch has enough violence at the ready for whoever is dumb enough to mess with his family.
The secret to these movies is found in watching this ordinary schlub of a man proving to be an expert assassin. He is very good at delivering a beating, but also in taking one along the way. It ties into the middle age male fantasy of being an unassailable tough guy at heart, despite our civilized demeanors.
Credit the filmmakers for delivering another series of crowd-pleasing action sequences that will get audiences cheering for this improbable hero. These fights are better staged than in the original, which should make fans very happy.
I also appreciate that his family is given more to do this time around. Connie Nielsen, playing Hutch's wife, and Gage Monroe as his son get to flesh out their characters and even take part in some of the violence. Perhaps it will lead to another sequel where this family of "Nobodys" gets to put the hurt on another set of deserving bad guys.
The rest of the cast doesn't fare as well. RZA and Christopher Lloyd seem mostly wasted here, while Hanks and Ironside aren't menacing enough to truly test our hero. On the other hand, it's a lot of fun watching Sharon Stone camp it up as the local crime boss. Give the actress credit for such a hammy-but-appealing performance.
Finally, I love how lean and mean this movie turns out to be. Clocking in at a brisk hour and a half, "Nobody 2" gives us a quick reintroduction to the characters and then proceeds immediately to the violence. Fans of these movies don't need much more than that. Kudos to the filmmakers for delivering exactly what they want.
All of which makes "Nobody 2" into a fun, end-of-summer blockbuster. It's not a great movie, but it doesn't have any designs on being anything more than just a simple escapist fantasy. It won't be for everybody, but if you enjoyed getting to know "Nobody" in 2021, I think you'll have a blast catching up with his family this weekend.