Tom Hanks stars in A Man Called Otto as a grumpy and perpetually disgruntled old man. Swiss and German filmmaker Marc Forster helms this American remake of a Swedish film based on the New York Times bestselling novel A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Backman. Otto Anderson is a lonely sixty something widower, with a short temper, who likes to be politically incorrect to others. Tom Hanks has been fondly known as the “nicest guy in America” for generations. I have to admit it takes a bit of getting used to seeing him portray a cranky curmudgeon.
Sometimes Otto channels his gruff personality by throwing harsh words at everyone around him including the neighbors in his gated community as he makes his daily rounds to inspect the vicinity. “Don’t you let that little rat dog piss on my walkway again!” Otto yells at a young woman who is guiding her pet dog on a leash. He also hurls other insults at the lady on another encounter by saying she has more diseases than her canine. These are the times including one incident where Otto beats up Beppo the clown during a hospital visit where he acts more like Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino instead of a lovable charmer.
Otto has a list of people he doesn’t like including an ongoing feud with a Dye & Merica Real Estate agent played by comedian Mike Birbiglia. The man constantly blasts loud rap music in his car, while always leaving the latch open to the main enclave. This character represents the corporate greed and dishonesty of the “white shirts” who are depicted in the international film. The Swedish movie included more backstory about Ove’s losses including the tragic death of his father who was struck by a train. We see the cruelty of “white shirts” who let his house burn down to the ground leaving him homeless because they wanted to develop his land, along with his anger about a debilitating accident involving his wife. These things alone are enough for an audience to understand his cynicism and makes the payoff of him contemplating suicide by getting struck by a train even more unsettling. It is a natural position for someone to take when they are depressed and have been defeated by the world.
In the American adaptation Dye & Merica wants to buy everyone out of their homes by using unscrupulous tactics, but Otto has made it his mission to protect his property. The loss of his wife Sonya prompts him to frequently visit her grave. He engages in ongoing conversations with her sharing updates about his life.
“The whole neighborhood is falling apart these days.” He informs his deceased lover. It is due to Sonya’s death that he has made a plan to kill himself to join her. There are some very dark moments in the story where Otto makes several attempts to take his own life using various items because he suffers from suicidal ideations. The addition of new neighbors moving in next door opens up the narrative. Mexican actress Mariana Treviño is the standout as a pregnant thirty something named Marisol. She is raising her two daughters with her husband Tommy (Manuel Garcia – Rulfo).
The family arrives just in time to give Otto a sense of purpose and to imbue him with a renewed hope since he has given up on living. Marisol brings Otto some food that is representative of her Latin culture as a welcome present. He slams the door in her face. But she sticks her foot out and tells him off giving him a piece of her mind. “Are you always this unfriendly?” She ponders. “I am not unfriendly.” Otto replies. “Ok. You’re not. Every word you say is like a warm cuddle.” He has met his match and their bond has been created. The chemistry between Tom Hanks and Mariana Treviño is what helps the film as Otto eventually earns a spot in a surrogate family. He drives Marisol to the hospital to help her husband, gives her driving lessons and babysits her children.
We learn more about Otto’s backstory through flashbacks that are triggered by each of his suicide attempts. The American adaptation which is produced by Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson through their company Playtone features their son,Truman Hanks, playing a younger version of Otto in the movie. Otto tries to join the army, but he is rejected because of his health. He spots his future wife Sonya (Rachel Keller), while waiting for a commuter train and tries to return her book after she drops it. They fall in love and eventually marry. There is one scene involving Truman as young Otto in a hospital at Sonya’s bedside that unfolds exactly like one from She’s Having A Baby. I wasn’t expecting to see a reference to the John Hughes film including the same Kate Bush song,This Woman’s Work, to highlight a pivotal emotional moment of loss.
Some of the scenes from the original film remain intact, while other changes have been made to shape the story. Otto is given the responsibility to raise a stray cat after Marisol finds it freezing in a yard. I believe that the Swedish film included more depth and nuance than A Man Called Otto.
There are many plot points that were crafted to give leading man Tom Hanks more screen time. He eventually becomes an empathetic character as his connection to Marisol grows. A Man Called Otto is an enjoyable watch if you don’t mind seeing Tom Hanks play against type. Just be prepared as a fan to see Hanks hate on his neighbor for buying a Japanese car or threatening a driver during an act of road rage. Overall the film champions themes about love, family and the importance of community.
Grade: B
A Man Called Otto is now playing in NY and LA opening in theaters everywhere on January 6th.
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