A Man Called Otto (2022): 6.5/10
Director: Marc Forster
Runtime: 126mins
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Based on the 2015 Swedish film ‘A Man Called Ove’, which itself is based on the novel of the same name by Fredrik Backman, comes a remake from ‘Finding Neverland’ duo Marc Forster and David Magee. Tom Hanks is Otto, a solitary figure living on a private road in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He appears grumpy and unsociable on the outside, but unbeknownst to most, is battling more than most on the inside.
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The arrival of new neighbours Marisol (Mariana Treviño), who is heavily pregnant, and useless husband Tommy (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo) deflects Otto’s attention long enough from committing surprisingly drastic actions, with flashbacks explaining the true nature of Otto’s demons – Hanks’ son Truman plays a younger Otto.
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Everyone around Otto is overly positive and full of energy, the complete opposite to Otto – of course, slowly but surely his walls are broken down after a series of humorous but predictably set up scenarios, which Otto can’t help but get involved in. In the end, it’s a fairly formulaic, breezy affair, but it’s proof once again that Tom Hanks is still one of the most watchable personalities in the business.
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