A Man Called Otto Movie Review

A Man Called Otto Movie Review

Tom Hanks has done it all. He literally has dabbled in every single genre. Comedy (The Burbs, BIG, Bachelor Party), Thriller (Bridge of Spies, Da Vinci Code, Inferno), Family (Turner and Hooch, Toy Story 1-4, Forrest Gump), Action (Greyhound, Captain Phillips, Saving Private Ryan) and Drama (Forrest Gump, Cast Away, Philadelphia). In 2022, he returned to the comedy genre for the first time in a long time, with ‘A Man Called Otto’, from director Marc Foster (Stay, World War Z, Christopher Robin). The film sees Hanks play Otto, a grumpy old man who has given up on life following the loss of his wife. When a young family moves in nearby, he meets his match and his whole world is turned upside down. With the star power of Tom Hanks and the sure-handed direction from Marc Forster, this film was an absolute delight from start to finish.

The film is anchored by Tom Hanks’s committed turn as Otto. He is oh so real as the grump old Otto at the start of the film, but as the film progresses, we start to see a likeable side to his character as he begins to connect with his neighbours and finds a new lease on life. In recent years, Hanks has kept busy, with a number of larger films such as: Pinocchio, Elvis, Greyhound, Toy Story 4, A Beautiful Day In the Neighbourhood, News of The World and Finch. It was nice to see him return to a smaller film, that is character-focussed and at times, downright hilarious. His charm is still felt across the globe, as he manages to still make you care about the various characters he plays, even though they can be incredibly unlikeable on the surface, like Otto. The interplay between Hanks and co-stars Marina Trevino and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo is fantastic. They play off each other so well, creating a fun dynamic between the neighbours and what turns out to be an emotional albeit relatable journey. Trevino is a standout as Marisol, going toe-to-toe with hanks on screen and giving Otto a run for his money. It's so much fun to watch and their friendship has a satisfying payoff. 

Marc Forster’s direction is also top-notch. He manages to handle the more dramatic sequences with poise and care, allowing the actors to carry the heft of the sequences, but in a touching and relatable way. The story itself is quite beautiful as well, whilst it is at its core, a comedy film, it’s the more human themes of grief and finding a new lease on life that I think almost everyone can relate to. I found myself multiple times throughout the film, welling with tears, but also connecting with the character of Otto and his journey on a more personal level. By the time the credits roll, you’re left with a lot to ponder about life, mortality, and the relationships we build. It's truly profound on a human level and memorable for that reason. 

‘A Man Called Otto’ is one of the best dramedies in recent years (drama/comedy). It's funny, sad at times, but it's never not enjoyable. The cast are all wonderful, with the veteran Tom Hanks turning in yet another masterful performance and supporting cast members Marina Trevino and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo also stealing many of the scenes they’re both in. if you haven’t seen ‘A Man called Otto’ I urge you to check it out, you won’t regret it. The film is now out on DVD and Blu-Ray thanks to the good team at Sanity, so make sure you pick it up, either as a gift or for yourself.

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Christopher Pattison from Oz Movie Geek wrote this blog post for Sanity. See more from Chris here