Nobody (2021)

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It's funny to think about, but I almost can't believe a movie like this went right over my head upon its initial release. If I'm being honest, this is one of those movies that holds a lot of what I'm a sucker for within it. Though I probably wouldn't call it a personal favourite, it remains very much "up my alley." When people started comparing it to 'John Wick' and mentioned Bob Odenkirk as the lead, it was easy for me to be sold on it, albeit a little late on the uptake. I ended up renting it, digitally, thanks to Covid.

Going back to what I'm a sucker for within this film, I love a one-person army movie, a revenge flick, a movie where the hero doesn't have to be muscle-bound, something a bit gritty, yet a bit funny all at once, and a movie where the lead character is relatable in a much more humanistic way, like John Wick losing his dog. This is a film that piggybacks on the success of 'John Wick,' but manages to be its own thing. I was also fresh off of watching 'Better Call Saul' before checking this out, so Odenkirk was someone I already knew I liked, and I couldn't wait to see him get into the action side of things more.

Hutch Mansell (Odenkirk) lives a seemingly basic life with an average office job at a metal fabrication company. He resides in suburbia with his wife, Becca (Connie Nielsen), their teenage son, Blake (Gage Munroe), and their younger daughter, Abby (Paisley Cadorath). As the everyday grind begins to grow irritating, his frustration intensifies. One night, two burglars break into their house and try to rob them at gunpoint. Hutch actually lets the perps go, and with that, word spreads about his actions despite his feelings that he made the right decision - primarily based on what he could have done to them.

The next day, Hutch becomes the subject of ridicule from several people, including his son, brother-in-law Charlie (Billy MacLellan), and neighbour Jim (Paul Essiembre). Upon coming home from work, Abby mentions that she can't find her kitty cat bracelet, which triggers Hutch to snap, knowing the burglars have taken it. Things escalate quickly, and soon, his rampage leads him to brutally injure the brother of a notorious Russian mob boss, Yulian Kuznetsov (Aleksey Serebryakov), without knowing who he is. As we all know, this never goes over well, and Hutch finds himself fighting more than he bargained for.

This movie is like a combination of 'John Wick' and 'Falling Down' with all their best features. I love me a good revenge film, especially if it involves the "straw that broke the camel's back" situation. Here, it's a kitty cat bracelet that parallels something a bit more like 'John Wick.' However, elements of 'Falling Down,' namely the idea of a bad day for the wrong type of person, are present here as well. All in all, it's a great movie to watch and take out your frustrations on the world safely, much like playing a heavy-duty 3D shooter. It's another good title to throw on when you've had a bad day.

With more to enjoy about this movie, I'd be hard-pressed not to mention some of the side characters. Hutch's father, David (played by Christopher Lloyd), and his half-brother, Harry (played by RZA), end up being solid standouts throughout the film, especially when it's clear that Christopher Lloyd had a blast in this role, and his performance adds a healthy dose of comedy to the entire experience. Also, making a cameo appearance here is Michael Ironside as Hutch's father-in-law. Although Llyod stands out among others for me, personally, it should be known that they're all pretty damn likable side characters, and their relationships with Hutch make you want to root for him more.

If you were ever a fan of 'Better Call Saul' (or enjoyed the character in 'Breaking Bad'), and you want a good revenge film much along the lines of 'John Wick', then this is the movie for you. I had a great deal of fun with it, and it ended up being one of my personal favourites that year, once again covering almost everything I love to see in a solid action movie. This is a title well worth watching if you're looking for a solid revenge action flick with a bit more substance, and it comes highly recommended by yours truly for those bad days we all experience from time to time. Just promise not to copy what you see on the screen.

5/5

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