Nobody 2 Review
When the first Nobody released back in 2021, no one expected Better Call Saul star Bob Odenkirk to become an action movie icon. Given Odenkirk’s experience with drama, no one really expected it. Nobody gave him that chance to shine and it did not disappoint as it delivered a high stakes, yet grounded, action flick that truly showcased Odenkirk’s potential. Now, he makes that comeback four years later with Nobody 2, which pushes the violence into a new gear while infusing some emotional quirks.
Nobody 2 sees Hutch (Odenkirk) still trying to pay off his debt from the previous film at the cost of staying away from home. Though his family knows what he has to do, Hutch’s priorities leave his family, especially his wife Becca (Connie Nielsen), disconnected. However, he plans to bring his family closer together by spending a vacation with them at his childhood playplace. Unfortunately, once Hutch discovers it’s actually a front for another criminal empire, he must do whatever it takes to protect his family at all costs.
With such a plot, it certainly feels like Nobody 2 is trying to invoke a stronger emotional core than the original. Sure, the first film had this element of family given how it revolved around that kidnapping. Although, each member of Hutch’s family, particularly with Becca and their troubled son Brady (Gage Munroe), gets more development. The film is able to wrap around this “sins of the father”-like idea to make you feel invested in Hutch’s family, which mostly works in the first act.
This concept really gives depth, especially when Brady enters this little rivalry with a bunch of boys, but it takes a back seat by the second act. What the film does instead of playing it straight is put a twist by embracing the “like father, like son” idea. As such, it can make the events of the first act feel somewhat cheesy. Yet, in the grand scheme of things in director Timo Tjahjanto’s first American feature film, it works because the creative team knows that it’s not that serious.
Yet, when Nobody 2 does take its familial narrative seriously, it does give us some incredible performances. Particularly, Connie Nielsen really steps into the spotlight with Becca, who’s given a more important role here. Nielsen puts Becca into this toil as she tries to make the most of the family vacation despite Hutch holding back. The chemistry that Nielsen has with Odenkirk is simply great as both of them happily provided that lightheartedness into an otherwise violent film.
On the violence, the stunt work and cinematography go hand-in-hand once more in Nobody 2 to give us those gruesome sequences. The first act alone already throws you into that over-the-top, zooming action with Hutch recounting a previous experience with different “interested parties.” However, this is only a taste of what Tjahjanto and cinematographer Callan Green has to offer.
It continually keeps you hooked with some unique perspectives as well, with one second act sequence only letting you hear what’s happening until it transitions back into the scene. Another scene, which comically acts as an in-film subversion, makes great use of its environment in this isolated environment. Simply put, the action undeniably feels like an upgrade.
Even as Nobody 2 increases the stakes, it still has its problems. Particularly, the main antagonist, Lendina (Sharon Stone) is treated like a one-dimensional bad guy with only a few scenes to make her threatening. It tries to play this off with a few hilarious moments, particularly with a dance sequence that’s a little Morbius-y but they’re barely there.
Additionally, the third act, which is mostly action-focused, can feel somewhat cheesy, especially thanks to some of the dialogue choices. Sure, it gives us an incredible sword fight with Hutch’s adopted brother Harry (RZA), but those one-liners really give that tackiness to the film. Fortunately, they only happen a few times and never try to over-impose themselves.
All in all, Nobody 2 is a satisfyingly visceral sequel that pushes everything to a higher level, from its stronger family narrative to good performances from Odenkirk and Nielsen to its extreme, explosive action. While it doesn’t feel like it does something new for the overall genre, similarly to the first film, it still gives audiences the wild ride they’ve been waiting for with this second outing.
Nobody 2 releases in theaters on August 15.
Rating: ★★★★
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Christopher Gallardo is a freelance entertainment writer and critic. While not running The Reel Roller, Chris can be found writing reviews and breakdowns on all things films and TV. Outside of entertainment writing, he’s currently taking classes for a Bachelor’s of Science with a minor in Digital Media & Journalism. Plus, he loves Percy Jackson, animated films and shows, and Fallout! Follow Christopher on Instagram & X.