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When you move into a new house, you can make plenty of changes to make it home. You can paint walls, hang pictures, or renovate the kitchen. But there’s one thing you can’t change: your neighbors. If you’re lucky, your neighbors could turn out to be good friends—or they could be like the surly old man in A Man Called Otto.
A Man Called Otto stars Tom Hanks as Otto Anderson, a cranky old guy who’s made his neighborhood’s daily operations his business—even though he thinks his neighbors are all idiots. It’s been six months since Otto lost his beloved wife, Sonya, and after being forced into retirement, Otto believes that he has nothing left to live for. But just when he’s canceled all of his utilities and is ready to end his own life, a new family moves in across the street. And their constant questions and interruptions keep foiling Otto’s plans—while giving him something new to fuss over.
Time and time again, Otto’s plans are interrupted by a well-meaning neighbor—usually outspoken Marisol (Mariana Treviño), who’s always bringing food or asking for Otto’s help. The neighborhood dynamics here are definitely entertaining. There are plenty of eccentric (and generally lovable) residents on Otto’s street—and though they’re quick to offer a friendly hello, Otto usually returns with a growled complaint.
Played by a different actor, Otto could be a maddening character—this scowling curmudgeon who’s made himself the unofficial enforcer of the community rules. But Hanks makes him strangely lovable, his grumbled insults often surprisingly funny. And, like Marisol, viewers will be drawn to this man and his story.
As Marisol gradually gets Otto to open up about his past, he becomes so much more than just that bitter old man from down the street. He’s heartbroken and lost—and though his personality is prickly, he’s actually tough and loyal and willing to fight for the people around him.
Otto’s story offers just the right blend of heartbreaking and funny—with all of the drama and comedy hinging on a pitch-perfect lead performance. Though he’s surrounded by lovably quirky—if sometimes over-the-top—supporting characters, Hanks makes it a sweet, funny, moving film.
Though the holiday season is usually the time for heartwarming tales, A Man Called Otto brings the warmth of the holidays into the new year. It’s a charming feel-good film that will put a smile on even the crankiest viewer’s face.
A Man Called Otto opens in theaters nationwide on January 13, 2023.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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