A Man Called Otto

CinemaSerf

January 9, 2023

7/10

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 de…

Nathan

February 1, 2023

7/10

A Man Called Otto is heartfelt and sad story about a widowed husband trying to find his place in the world without his wife. It is incredibly touching and can resonate with any audience member no matter the age. Going into the film, I was expecting it to have it's sad moments but there are times where this movie gets very dark. This was a surprise and it is a major tonal shift from the rest of the film. It works really well as this tonal juxtaposition is a metaphor for how Otto is feeling on…

Peter McGinn

March 21, 2023

7/10

I had read the book and watched the original Swedish version of the movie before I had a chance to watch this, so I suppose I had some baggage to carry going into it. But I liked the film, especially the irrepressible Marisol, Otto’s new neighbor next door. I tried to avoid the thoughts of “Was that in the original?” and the like and just let it roll over me. Oddly enough, I wasn’t sure that the two characters that played young and old Otto seemed like the sort who would be DIY experts. I am…

ARGMAN

March 2, 2024

5/10

Two problems: Hilarious enforcing of Woke Agenda + being too preachy and politically correct.

#MovieReview #AManCalledOtto Initially hesitant to watch "A Man Called Otto" due to doubts about its ability to captivate my interest, I waited for its streaming release. Tom Hanks' involvement and the lengthy runtime coupled with lackluster promotional material contributed to my hesitation. To my pleasant surprise, the film turned out to be fantastic. With a well-crafted script and Tom Hanks delivering an outstanding performance, the movie was truly remarkable and enjoyable to watch. Witn…

A Man Called Otto was an incredible surprise for me, as a big Tom Hanks fan, but not in a good way. Tom Hanks starred in, and produced, this film, made popular in some literatary circles who enjoy books of this European very-dry comedy. For many that praise the movie are familiar with the original book, or similarly themed British movies. I wasn't. Simply put, having seen every Tom Hanks movie, this one was simply awful in so many ways. I kept waiting for a turn of events that would pull m…