Director
Ilya Naishuller

Starring
Bob Odenkirk, Aleksey Serebryakov and Connie Nielsen

From the writer of John Wick comes a new action hero, this time in the form of a seemingly average ‘Nobody’ named Hutch Mansell (Bob Odenkirk). Working a basic 9-5 at his father-in-law’s factory, his family shows a general sense of apathy towards everything he does. But one night after disturbing some would-be burglars in his home, Hutch is confronted with the option of physically defending his family against the armed intruders, or backing down and letting them escape. When he opts for the latter, the disappointment from his wife and eldest son are palpable. What his family aren’t aware of though is that before becoming a suburban Dad, Hutch was a feared Government assassin, and now he’s angry with a point to prove, which leads Hutch into an altercation with the brother of a Russian underworld kingpin, one where the brother comes off second best.

From here it’s easy to see the direct similarities between Nobody and John Wick. Soon it seems like the entire Russian Mafia is hot on Hutch’s tail, which is only going to end one way; in a trail of destruction with a high body count. But the differences between the two films takes the form of a highly stylized soundtrack that adds to the dark humour overlaid throughout. Bob Odenkirk is well supported by a brilliant performance from Christopher Lloyd, playing Hutch’s retired FBI agent Father. The comedic pairing adds a perfect je ne sais quoi that perhaps the John Wick films didn’t quite have.

If one thing is certain after this viewing, it’s that Bob Odenkirk has very quickly established himself as a bankable action star with a point of difference. This is the perfect action film for those who like a little more than the generic garb. It’s by no means a ‘thinking man’s’ action film, but it’s such good fun that you can’t help but enjoy yourself. So if you like seeing heads get smashed in to the tunes of Nina Simone or Louis Armstrong, and films that don’t take themselves too seriously, but are seriously good…then this is one that has to be on your watch list. The quality is perhaps genuinely surprising, which probably shouldn’t be the case when you look at the caliber of the names attached.

Guaranteed to be one of the hits of 2021, Nobody is in cinemas now.

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