For years, audiences have known Bob Odenkirk as lawyer Saul Goodman in the Breaking Bad universe. In Nobody, the actor tries his hand at being an action star. The film is written by Derek Kolstad, part of the creative team behind the now-iconic John Wick franchise. Because of that connection, it was very easy to draw comparisons between John Wick and Nobody, with the hope being the latter could be a springboard to the next great genre series. Unfortunately, the film falls short of those aspirations. Nobody delivers plenty of hard-hitting action audiences expect, but the story lacks the emotional impact for the film to truly connect with viewers.
In Nobody, Odenkirk stars as Hutch Mansell, an average family man stuck in the same daily routine, living a rather mundane existence. That is until he becomes victim to a home invasion, during which he allows the perpetrators to get the better of him. This personal failure awakens a long-dormant side of Hutch. Before long, he finds himself taking action and standing up for himself to criminals. Unfortunately, this new approach puts Hutch in the crosshairs of dangerous drug lord Yulian Kuznetsov (Aleksey Serebraykov), leaving Hutch to fight for his life against a group of Russians.
Kolstad's script borrows some tricks from the John Wick playbook, namely in the sense it paints Hutch as a man with a violent past who's looking to move on to something more fulfilling. Sadly, this angle isn't fully fleshed out in Nobody, as the film barely digs beyond the surface level of Hutch's family life. His wife and two children aren't so much realized characters as they are devices designed to illustrate Hutch's current state and attempt to get audiences to care about the protagonist. This makes the ensuing action sequences feel standard rather than cathartic, since Nobody lacks a truly engaging emotional hook to draw viewers in. The thin narrative is further hurt by there not being a rich and interesting mythology to prop up Nobody's world, so the screenplay comes across as generic instead of innovative.
Nobody director Ilya Naishuller, best known for Hardcore Henry, is clearly in his wheelhouse here, crafting a series of fun action set pieces. Nothing in Nobody comes close to reaching the heights of John Wick or similar titles, but they're still effective and filled with brutality to help deliver on Nobody's R-rating. All of the action is also easy to follow, primarily taking place in wider angles with a lack of quick cuts. Due to the way Nobody is shot, it's easy to tell Odenkirk committed himself to the physical component of his character, which definitely helps the action scenes flow and land with the intended impact. In terms of the story, they're rarely anything more than superficial thrills, but those looking for hard-hitting action will probably find something to enjoy. The bus fight that takes place early in the film is one sequence that stands out above the rest.
Odenkirk channels his likable screen presence and charisma to mold Hutch into someone the audience can root for. Part of the appeal of his casting, and what works well in the movie, is that he isn't the prototypical choice for this kind of role, but still finds a way to pull it off convincingly. Odenkirk's dramatic and comedic chops are also utilized well, particularly in scenes when Hutch reflects on his life and choices he's made. However, he is forced to carry the film on his shoulders, as many of the other roles are thinly-drawn. The supporting cast, consisting of big names like Connie Nielsen, Christopher Lloyd, RZA, and others, do not have much to do. This isn't to say anyone in Nobody delivers a bad performance, it's just that other than Odenkirk, they have little to work with and don't leave an impression.
Instead of being the next John Wick, Nobody plays out more as John Wick lite, which could be disappointing for some. It's fun to see Odenkirk try something new at this stage in his career, and Nobody clearly knows what it is and never takes itself too seriously (see: the moments of levity, the soundtrack full of licensed classics). Still, these merits don't truly help elevate the final product beyond fleeting entertainment. There's still a dearth of high-profile genre releases due to the pandemic, so those looking for stylish action may latch on to Nobody. Still, it's not a title that demands to be seen on the big screen, especially with Universal making their movies available on-demand shortly after theatrical release. Those interested can wait until Nobody can be watched at home.
Nobody opens in U.S. theaters on March 26, 2021. The film is 92 minutes long and is rated R for strong violence and bloody images, language throughout and brief drug use.
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