Hutch Mansell (Bob Odenkirk) is buried in the routine. He takes the bus to work everyday toting his mug of homemade coffee to sit in an office and look at numbers on a spreadsheet for a manufacturing firm. He just misses the garbage truck every week. He does manage to get out for a run but is largely ignored by his wife Becca (Connie Nielsen) and his eldest Blake (Gage Munroe) when he comes home at night. His daughter Abby (Paisley Cadorath) still thinks he's number one but his life at the margins of society appears destined to continue until a break-in at his home one night.
The creative team of director Ilya Naishuller (Hardcore Henry) paired with Derek Kolstad writer and producer of the John Wick series gives the viewer a pretty good idea that action and violence will be on the menu. During the break-in orchestrated by a young scared couple Hutch attempts to deescalate the situation bringing disappointment to his son, wife co-workers, in-laws, and even the responding officers. Editors Evan Schiff and William Yeh the former worked on the first two Wick films and the latter with Naishuller on Hardcore Henry do a crisp job conveying the mundane repetitive ennuyant that is Hutches' life.
Something changes inside Hutch when his daughter announces after the theft that she can't find her prized kitty cat bracelet. Hutches' expression changes his motions become deliberate as he heads with purpose out the front door. Daniel Bernhardt stunt co-fight coordinator alongside Greg Rementer lead the stunt team and coach up Odenkirk to deliver a gritty practical hand-to-hand and up-close high level of violence. Kolstad's script slowly reveals key elements in Mansell's life relationships, resources, knowledge and abilities that were stored away and kept hidden that all flow back with ease.
Bob Odenkirk who got his start as a comedy writer shines in the role of Hutch Mansel. He battles a duality taking it gladly on the chin from family and friends as he clearly knows the likely outcome should he choose to react and respond. Christopher Lloyd is a casting find as Hutches' Dad David Mansel. Seemingly a feeble old man watching his shows in a nursing home on an antique T.V. he also has some some crafty tricks from his former line of employment close at hand. Look for Aleksey Serebryakov as Yulian a local Russian mob heavy that Hutch inadvertently wrongs ramping up exponentially the opposition threat.
Nobody is a straight-ahead action move well positioned to jump start the moving-going experience. The action comes in waves dotted with comedic moments striking a skillful balance. At one point Hutch explains to the most unlikely audience how he got from where he was to where he is and the misinterpretation of how he felt about his outwardly mundane existence. It's a well written, acted fun watch with a fitting mix of underrated songs that sync with the narrative.
***1/2 Out of 4.
Nobody | Ilya Naishuller | U.S.A. | 2021 | 92 Minutes.
Tags: Daily Grind, Break-in, Bracelet, Russian Mob, Obtshak, Hit Squad, Basement, Panic Room, Government Agency, Auditor, Code Name, Wolf, Sheep, Lamb, Short Story Long.
