A Man Called Otto-2022
Director Marc Forster
Starring Tom Hanks
Scott’s Review #1,398
Reviewed September 13, 2023
Grade: A-
I hedged slightly on seeing the film A Man Called Otto (2022) because it looked like an overly sentimental, predictable melodrama. It also missed out entirely during the 2022-2023 awards season, which means that the film had its share of critical detractors.
But I do love and admire Tom Hanks, both professionally and personally, even though he can be accused of choosing marginally safe material.
Though the film explores a tried and true formulaic setup, my heartstrings were immediately and severely pulled by the events in the movie. I may have been manipulated into teariness, but in the best of ways, and I didn’t mind a bit.
I enjoyed A Man Called Otto much more than I ever thought I would.
It is an American remake of the 2015 Swedish film A Man Called Ove, based on the 2012 novel by Fredrik Backman.
Otto Anderson (Tom Hanks) is a grumpy widower whose only satisfaction comes from abiding by and enforcing his neighborhood rules and regulations and criticizing and judging his exasperated neighbors.
When a young Hispanic family moves in next door, he connects with the no-nonsense and very pregnant Marisol (Mariana Trevino), leading to an unexpected friendship that softens and unnerves the crotchety man.
As the pair bond, the audience learns more about Otto and his deceased wife Sonya (Rachel Keller) through flashbacks. The once youthful and determined couple faces terrible obstacles as we realize why Otto has become so depressed and irritable.
A Man Called Otto is very conventional, polished, and sentimental, and could arguably be accused of being a tad dramatic. It’s not a dangerous film, nor does it present material viewers have never seen before.
Nonetheless, it works!
The reasons it works so well start with Tom Hanks. A two-time Oscar winner who has played many types of characters before, he portrays his character with flourishing comedy and dramatic gusto.
We like Otto even though he could be classified as an asshole.
Despite Hanks’s acting ability, he is only part of the enjoyment of the film.
Worth mentioning is that the very liberal Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson co-produced the film, and I’m glad they did.
A heavy dose of diversity and inclusivity is plopped into the film. Otto’s neighbors are a black couple who have been Otto and Sonya’s best friends for decades.
Otto confronts a teenager named Malcolm for delivering advertising circulars, and the boy recognizes Otto as his former teacher’s husband, recounting that Sonya supported him as a transgender student when nobody else did.
Sonya courageously led an effort to convince the other teachers to call Malcolm by his desired name respectfully.
Another win is the frequent flashbacks to when Otto and Sonya first met. A nervous but smitten Otto intentionally gets on the wrong train to bring Sonya a book that she has accidentally dropped on the platform.
They eventually dine in a nice restaurant, where he encourages Sonya to have a lovely entrée while he dines on a meager bowl of soup because of financial issues.
Truman Hanks (Tom’s son), Rachel Keller, and Mariana Trevino deliver outstanding performances in supporting roles.
Finally, a feral cat that reminds me of my darling cat Zeus stole my heart. He also steals Otto’s.
It’s these trimmings that make the film a crowd-pleaser and a charming sentiment. The story feels fresh even though other films have had the same type of message. A case could be made that Otto is Ebenezer Scrooge in a non-Christmas film.
I may not necessarily need to see A Man Called Otto (2022) again since it’s a one-shot deal type of movie, but I’m glad I did. The film reaffirms that there are good people in the world who selflessly look out for each other without needing personal gain.
