Normal Review
It shouldn’t be a surprise that Bob Odenkirk continues to venture into the action and thriller genres. Whether that be as the retired assassin in the Nobody movies to his acclaimed role as Jimmy “Saul Goodman” McGill in the Breaking Bad universe, Odenkirk never disappoints. In the roles that he’s taken up recently, Odenkirk has put himself through a lot of physically gruelling situations. Yet, no matter what circumstances he finds himself in each film, he always picks himself back up to give audiences a fun film. Odenkirk continues to do so with Normal, a low-stakes, yet energetic, action-thriller.
Normal follows Ulysses (Bob Odenkirk), a small town sheriff-in-training who’s learning the ropes of his newfound responsibilities. Although the small town of Normal, Minnesota seems like a regular town, it turns out that it’s a front for the Yakuza’s money laundering schemes. When Ulysses discovers this after trying to stop a bank robbery, he’s thrust into a fight for his life as the townspeople hunt him down.
What makes Normal incredibly entertaining is the balance of soft and dark comedy that’s incorporated. Lighthearted humor is present throughout in the first act, where Ulysses just patrols around and gets acquainted with a few faces you know he’ll have to kill. From a naive old shopkeeper trying to get the “right” colored yarn to the somewhat seductive Moira (Lena Headey), these awkward moments work well in worldbuilding. Ulysses’ conversation with the town’s mayor (Henry Winkler) about moving on and letting things be is also one of the dialogue highlights, giving his character a sense of oddness while still maintaining his calm demeanor.
However, when things hit the fan, the dark humor really goes nuts. This is likely due to John Wick’s Derek Kolstad, who seems to have kept the second act pacing quite tight. The transition from focusing on the peaceful, if manipulative, dialogue to the explosive, bloody physical moments hits right when Ulysses puts one and two together. Most of the humor comes from these unexpected sequences where the audiovisual elements hint towards one thing happening only for Ulyssees to be caught off-guard by his killers. Ulysses’ escape from the bank robbery shows that as one of the film’s most shocking and hilarious moments literally blasts in your face.
Furthermore, given Kolstad’s involvement, the film very much wants to be a John Wick-esque story. It’s got underlying emotional beats that involve Alex (Jess McLeod), the daughter of the town’s former sheriff, and why she did what she did. Through her character, Kolstad and director Ben Wheatley want to show that anyone can have a shot at redemption, even an entire town. The real circumstances of her dad’s murder is initially kept mysterious, guiding viewers through an interesting opening mystery.
The friendship between Ulysses and Moira has its charms as, at the times they meet, both of them strive for connection. Ulysses doesn’t necessarily have anyone he can rely on, but Moira’s “warm” presence opens up that door for him. There’s a scene where he explains the history behind the town to Moira in this brooding environment that almost seems sad. It’s only unfortunate then that their relationship suddenly breaks apart during the transition into the final act, which is actually a resolute point for the relationship between Ulysses and Alex.
The relationship between Ulysses and Alex is more of a mentorship-partnership as they team up after Ulysses’ former allies take their leave. The way that this relationship wraps back into the overarching story is pretty interesting, considering the twists and turns that the film decides to take with the townspeople. Still, seeing these two go head-to-head with the Yakuza, after a wild turn of events in that transitional point, provides the last bits of excitement.
Normal is the result of blending the explosive action of John Wick with the wild and fun beats of Nobody: an entertaining, chaotic, bloody good time. It’s got the shocking moments and surprises you’d want from an action film with Bob Odenkirk, who fits the “gunslinger-family man” persona perfectly.
Rating: ★★★⯪☆
Normal releases in theaters on April 17.
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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.