When the film Nobody came out in 2021, expectations were all over the place, as people were unsure what to expect of Bob Odenkirk in an action role. He had thrived in comedy and dramatic roles, but wasn't anyone's idea of a standard ass kicker.
It goes without saying that the original film easily exceeded expectations, and when the sequel Nobody 2 was announced, it put even more pressure on the studio to come up with a creative story and showcase Odenkirk's acting ability even with his physical limitations.
What is Nobody 2 about?
The sequel follows a similar plot to the original film as Oderkirk feels wronged by someone, stands up for himself and his family, and finds himself caught in a bigger plot than he ever expected. Director Timo Tjahjanto does wise by keeping the main character group small and keeping the story mostly isolated to one location.
As action movies have continued to grow and expand their reach, it can be confusing for the audience to keep track of the different villians, mob families, storylines, and organizations involved in the specific world of each franchise. Both films of the Nobody universe have done well by keeping the stories tight, the character groups consistent, and introducing one or two main villians who can be disposed of by the end of the film if needed.
With Nobody 2, the Mansell family takes a road trip to Plummerville, where Hutch (Bob Odenkirk) spent his vacations as a kid with his brother Harry (RZA) and father (Christopher Lloyd). Similar to the first film, both RZA and Lloyd have smaller roles in the film, but their additions add to the silly fun displayed throughout both films.
Upon arriving in Plummerville with his family, Hutch quickly raises the attention of the local sheriff (Colin Hanks) and the owner of the local amusement/water park (John Ortiz). Hanks may never become the star some expected early in his career, but he plays the sleazeball cop role perfectly here and thrives in a role where you just want to see him get beat up.
Nobody 2 review: Action sequences, humor, and more
It's after these initial interactions that things really take off for the film. The audience is treated to two big action sequences in the first half of the film, including one where we're forced to mostly listen to the action as an outside viewer of a warehouse that Hutch takes down.
It's these types of scenes in both films that showcase Odenkirk's humor and acting ability as he pleas with the attackers to just walk away because he truly doesn't want to hurt anyone. It's easy to have the actors in these movies fly through a group of bad guys without showing emotion, but showcasing an actor's range in set pieces like these are truly enjoyable.
These events eventually lead to the film's big bad Lendina (Sharon Stone) getting involved and sets up another fun, albeit silly, sequence where viewers should just turn their brains off and enjoy the fun. Stone is always a welcome addition to any film, and she seems to be having the time of her life playing a vicious killer.
Without spoiling too much of the ending, the sequence also features numerous moments where Hutch and his wife (Connie Nielsen) are able to drop hints of their past that was left a bit ambiguous in the original film and sets up potential for additional stories within the franchise moving forward.
It'll be interesting to see how Nobody 2 does at the box office as the first one was a resounding success financially, but I expect that Odenkirk will continue to make these films if he has a good story in mind and the money keeps rolling in.
Nobody 2 is now playing in theaters nationwide.