Cinema Scholars reviews Marc Forster’s heartwarming drama A Man Called Otto. The film stars Tom Hanks and Mariana Treviño. Sony Pictures will release A Man Called Otto in select theaters on January 6 and nationwide on January 13.
Introduction
It’s a strange phenomenon when a feel-good movie makes you cry. Like, how can you feel happy when you’re sobbing and snorting? Then again, what better to drive home the heartwarming vibes than a healthy dose of emotional strife? After all, if life is always cotton candy and rainbows, can one truly appreciate the good without experiencing the bad too?
While there’s no doubt many would love to test that theory, no life is without the inevitable downs that help us appreciate the ups. In Marc Forster’s new dramedy, A Man Called Otto, the director applies a satisfying pattern of anguish, comedy, and warm fuzzies to tell the poignant story of a curmudgeon who just wants to get on with it.
Synopsis
Everybody knows one. That stoned-faced boomer who can’t quite (or flat out refuses to) acclimate to the modern world. The cranky elder who loudly bemoans the lack of math skills and common sense these days. The insufferable rule follower who sucks the fun out of the room with his disdain for the undisciplined youth.
In A Man Called Otto, the titular character fits all of these descriptions and more. Not that Otto doesn’t have a good reason for his general chagrin. The recent widower and forced retiree has lost his joie de vivre. His purpose. So much so, that he has been carefully plotting his own untimely demise.
Due to a few hiccups in his macabre plan, Otto begrudgingly makes the acquaintance of his new neighbors. The family of four immediately rubs Otto the wrong way. Nevertheless, the young matriarch, Marisol, injects herself into his life straight away. As Otto’s attitude gradually changes from total disdain to reluctant acceptance, the lessons Otto’s beloved late wife Sonya taught him to continue to live on.
A Tearjerker
Adapted from Fredrik Backman’s Swedish bestseller, “A Man Called Ove”, Forster’s “Otto” version doesn’t shy away from the heavy themes of the original. Dreamy flashbacks of Otto and Sonya’s early years perforate the gloom of the widower’s current day. The ah-shucks sweetness of these memories contrasted with Otto’s current despair is heart-wrenching.
And it’s not just once or twice. Several times throughout the film, Otto’s beautiful recollections tied together with his real-time struggles proves to be a tear-jerking combination. Though painful, these emotional moments are necessary for conveying Otto’s acceptance of his grief as well as the release of his grievances.
Lighthearted Moments
Thankfully, Forster reconciles all the pathos with plenty of good humor. Despite his sorrow, Otto’s orbit includes a parade of cheerful players who lighten the mood. As new connections are made and old vendettas are revealed, the story takes on a more wholesome vibe full of chuckles, despite Otto’s morbid plight.
Even Otto’s perpetual “get off my lawn” attitude is comical for the most part with his annoyed reactions played mostly for laughs. With a smattering of social commentary plus the obvious millennial vs boomer trope, A Man Called Otto ends up more humorous than one might expect with pithy observations about the state of humanity.
A Heart Warmer
Following the one-two punch of emotion and then humor, Forster doesn’t skimp when it comes to the warm fuzzies. While the wistfulness of Otto’s flashbacks is sadly sweet, it’s the eventual gladness of the present-day narrative that makes the whole thing click. The no-nonsense Otto has met his match in Marisol, the young mother who has no time for his surliness. She meets his arrogant pettiness with her chaotic brand of pragmatism and the result is nothing short of charming.
As Otto’s frozen facade begins to thaw, an incredibly heartwarming story about “chosen family” begins to take shape. Despite his dismal demeanor, Otto has a concerned group of neighbors and loved ones who rally around him nevertheless. The film offers a beautiful reminder to accept love and happiness from unexpected places and that families come in many forms.
Performances
You might think all of this crying, laughing, and loving would be overkill. But amazingly, Forster pulls off a lovely heartwarming tear-jerker that somehow doesn’t feel too schmaltzy. This is likely because his leading man is one of Hollywood’s mega talents and most enduring sweethearts. While Tom Hanks isn’t exactly synonymous with the curmudgeonly type, the expert actor readily slips into grumpy old-man mode.
Hanks does justice to a complex character that isn’t exactly mean, but lets his rigidity and frustration get the best of him. And even though Otto isn’t wrong on most counts, Hanks nails Otto’s problematic, aggressive delivery and perceived lack of immediate empathy. As Otto’s story progresses, so too does Hank’s nuanced performance, gradually letting down his character’s guard and allowing a bit of charm through. Still, the impact of Otto’s most desperate moments resonates throughout the film due to Hanks’ ingenious command of the screen.
In perhaps the most pleasant surprise of A Man Called Otto, Mariana Treviño delights as Marisol. The very pregnant soon-to-be mother of three is the perfect antidote to Otto’s despair. Treviño captures the unflappable essence of the young immigrant by delivering a wonderfully comical performance. And when things get serious, Treviño turns in one of the many emotional scenes with raw realism.
Final Thoughts
A somewhat disjointed social medial hero subplot feels slightly contrived. To be fair, it does fit in with Otto’s continual plotting. And this narrative thread does eventually gets a callback in an 11th-hour climax featuring a conniving Mike Birbiglia. But even that ends up feeling forced. And finally, an epilogue to the main story arc hits you in the feels one more time and caps the story. Yet ultimately, this final tug at the heartstrings treads dangerously close to overkill Ville.
The level of feel-good fun in A Man Called Otto is not for everyone. Some may find some of the situational comedy borderline corny or too predictable. And the swell of emotion can feel overloaded at times. Yet, those who embrace the movie’s lessons about letting go of pain and allowing yourself to enjoy life’s gifts will get the bittersweet takeaway from this emotional rollercoaster. Being covered in tears and snot never felt so good.
Sony Pictures will release A Man Called Otto in select theaters on January 6 and nationwide on January 13.
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