Movie Review - A Man Called Otto

Director: Marc Forster
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Runtime: 126 minutes
Year: 2023
Starring: Tom Hanks, Mariana Trevino, Rachel Keller, Truman Hanks, Cameron Britton, Mack Bayda, Juanita Jennings, Peter Lawson Jones
 
Description: Otto (Tom Hanks) 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 across the street, he meets his match in quick-witted Marisol (Mariana Trevino), leading to a friendship that will turn his world around.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2023 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 17: A MOVIE WITH AN ACTOR YOU LOVE

Review: “A Man Called Otto” is based on the book “A Man Called Ove”. And Tom Hanks pays the titular Otto.

When you first meet grumpy, you would think he is quite unsympathetic. A blunt man who plays by the rules and berates you if you park where you’re not supposed to, for example. When new neighbors movie in on his street, the pretense he puts on slowly subsides. So he helps them (reluctantly) with chores. In return, he gets nice meals, which make him feel a little appreciated again. The film manages to combine (dark) comedy and drama well.

The story follows a well-known path. A grumpy man slowly becomes more gentle and builds a bond with another person. Otto’s backstory is also told, which impressed me. His life was full of misfortune, which makes you somewhat understand why he is the way is. And by the end of the film, you love Otto. Fun fact: Young Otto is played by Tom Hanks’ son, Truman Hanks.

I loved “A Man Called Otto”. It’s funny and heartwarming and in a melancholy way, it is quite a feel-good film as well. Tom Hanks never disappoints and once again the film is carried by him. The path from grumpy man to likeable guy is very well-executed.

Rating: 4/ 5