Regular readers of mine and other reviewers are undoubtedly familiar with the complaint about “sequel drop-off.” Follow-ups trying to cash in on the popularity of the first rarely match the magic. In fact, that phenomenon is so common that disappointing scions usually get more of a sigh of resignation than outrage. The latter is saved for lame remakes and re-boots. The superfluous re-creations of THE BISHOP’S WIFE and MR. AND MRS. SMITH come readily to mind as particularly odious. This one’s thankfully at the opposite end of the spectrum. Ain’t no drop-off to be found in NOBODY 2.
I loved NOBODY notably because of its surprise factor. Hutch (Bob Odenkirk) appears to be an ordinary suburban nebbish whose life is drab, drab, drab. Dull job; cookie-cutter cul-de-sac. An UNfunny Rodney Dangerfield on the respect scale. He’s easily pushed around by others and dismissed by his own family. That’s until someone presses the wrong button, unleashing the inner demons of a highly skilled former covert operative, akin to Jason Statham’s BEEKEEPER character. The resulting film blended high-octane action with character comedy to deliver a real hoot for viewers.
This isn’t a new premise by any means, but the aforementioned surprise factor of its “reveal” was greatly enhanced by its titular star. Odenkirk had been known for offbeat skit comedy and his sketchy Saul Goodman lawyer persona from “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul.” Nothing in his resume presaged a guy who would suddenly kick ass without bothering to take names.
Rather than just trading on unsealing the can of whoop-ass we already know exists within him, they upped the ante on the action. Big time. In the first, the inner Hutch was triggered by a home invasion. This time it’s bullies ruining the peaceful vacation he’d planned for his family (Connie Nielsen, with kids Gage Munroe and Paisley Cadorath) at a huge amusement park. That venue was picked because it was Hutch’s only childhood trip with his dad (Christopher Lloyd) and brother (RZA), and he wanted to share that joyful memory with his brood. But, much like “Wonder World” in BEVERLY HILLS COP III, beneath the noisy, colorful attractions lurks a major criminal enterprise – this one run by psycho-bitch Lendina (Sharon Stone, channeling Snow White’s evil queen with a heavy dose of Pacino’s Scarface), who blithely kills anyone who crosses her, including all innocent witnesses unlucky enough to be in the vicinity. It’s tough to top the Russian mobsters of the original, but she and her minions manage quite nicely.
As before, the film opens with a battered Hutch being interrogated by a couple of detectives wondering who he could be, and then cutting to the main story from its beginning, leading to the inevitable climactic battle that out-dazzles the warehouse shootout of the first in all respects. The heavy dose of violence is again tinged with varying degrees of comedy. This production is further boosted by a few plus factors. The family is more involved. Hutch’s struggle to just have the intended vacation despite growing obstacles, due to no fault of his own, is more emotional. And casting Colin Hanks as one of the bad guys, unlike anything we’d expect from him or his daddy, Tom, adds to the comic value.
Despite changes of writers and director, the result is just what fans of the first hoped it would be. For pure escapist fun, including bad guys gettin’ blowed up real good, NOBODY 2 is as close as you can get to a sure bet.
NOBODY 2 opens in theaters on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025.
RATING: 3.5 out of 4 stars
