Director: Marc Forster
Starring: Tom Hanks, Mariana Trevino, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Rachel Keller, Truman Hanks, Cameron Britton, Juanita Jennings, Mike Birbiglia
Distributor: Columbia
Runtime: 126 mins. Reviewed in Dec 2022
Reviewer: Fr Peter Malone msc

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Rating notes: Suicide themes and coarse language

Otto is a widower, tired of living, obsessive in his lifestyle and the supervising of regulations in his street. He encounters a Hispanic family, reconciles with an old friend, begins to appreciate his life again.

Tom Hanks, Mariana Trevino, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Rachel Keller, Truman Hanks, Cameron Britton, Juanita Jennings, Mike Birbiglia. Directed by Marc Forster. 126 minutes. Rated M (Suicide themes and coarse language.

Otto was originally Ove, the grumpy central character of the Swedish novel and then an Oscar-nominated Swedish film, A Man Called Ove. He has now crossed the Atlantic and become Otto.

It may seem something of a paradox to say that this film about grouchy Otto is genial and something of a crowd-pleaser. And, that is due to the fact that it casts the American icon, Tom Hanks, as Otto. We guess that Otto will eventually smile – but we can’t necessarily count on that.

Otto is a widower. Distraught at the death of his wife, he visits her grave frequently, bringing flowers, talking with her – and wanting to join her soon. In fact, he does make several attempts, often botched, sometimes interrupted. He has his daily routine, living in a small gated street, imposing the rules and minute regulations, checking on everything and everyone, telling people off, and growling when his neighbours greet him in the morning. And yet, Hanks makes us interested in Otto.

One day Otto is exasperated as a hire van bumps onto the pavement and he intervenes, discovering his new neighbours, the livewire pregnant mother, Marisol (an exuberant Trevino), Tommy, her rather accident-prone husband (Garcia-Rulfo), and their two young daughters. We know that they are going to be the facilitators of some change in Otto but we enjoy discovering how. For instance, Marisol without a driver’s licence needs to get to the hospital because her awkward husband has fallen off the ladder borrowed from Otto, and Otto decides to give her a driving lesson – not without its hazards. Marisol provides food for Otto – which he finds surprisingly tasty. Later he will be asked to babysit the children – not his forte.

While there is a lot to amuse, including some of the other neighbours, there is a great deal to be serious about. Otto has lost his zest for life and wants to end it. He does take an interest in Marisol and the family despite himself. He reconciles with a former friend. The friend, an African-American, is now paralysed and has fallen foul with real estate agents who want to develop the street. Otto takes on the real estate agents. He helps the young paper deliverer to fix his bike, bonding with him, and discovering that he is trans gender.

So, Otto’s street is something of a microcosm of the US – a mixture of ethnicities and attitudes. And, there is the iconic Tom Hanks at the centre, causing us to be upset with him at times, but eliciting our sympathy. A genially humane film.