Nobody review: Bob Odenkirk knocks heads in glorious B-movie pulp

Though he may not have an Emmy (yet!), Bob Odenkirk is well on his way to becoming a full-fledged movie star – and deservedly so. Most audiences will know him as the sleazy ‘criminal lawyer’ Saul Goodman on Breaking Bad and its spinoff Better Call Saul (entering its sixth and final season this year), but with his first leading blockbuster role in Nobody, Odenkirk proves he has the right chops to not only carry a film, but to do so with wit, style, and a surprising capacity for violence.

The film follows the mild-mannered father of two, Hutch Mansell (Odenkirk), who spends his time working an unfulfilling job at a factory, jogging, and missing the garbage man. When a pair of hapless burglars rob his house and hold him and his teenage son at gunpoint, the frightening encounter re-awakens Hutch’s taste for violence – as it turns out, he’s an ex “auditor” for government agencies – a.k.a. the last man you want to see at your door.

Initially out for revenge on robbers who broke into his home, Hutch quickly finds himself in over his head when things spiral out of control and he’s caught in the crosshairs of the Russian mob. With the help of his old colleague Harry (RZA) and his father David (Christopher Lloyd), Hutch sets out to protect his family and put an end to the mob’s reign of terror.

One of the unexpected joys of Nobody is how little of the film’s premise the trailers reveal – though you get a good idea of the film’s tone and general idea going in, the plot itself moves at a breakneck pace full of twists and turns that doesn’t let up – and nothing like the typical home invasion fare that one might expect from just watching the trailer.

Even more remarkable is how well-paced the film is: Though the constant changes in location could have the potential to become tiresome (like in last year’s 21 Bridges), Nobody budgets its time near flawlessly – hardly a single moment in its hour and a half runtime goes to waste. It’s a brilliant blend of solid action mixed in among worldbuilding and character work – efficient, well-balanced, and hardly ever dragging. You’ll be hard-pressed to find another action film as well-paced as this one.

Nobody also hits the nail on the head when it comes to tone – the John Wick comparisons are inevitable (in fairness, there’s definitely a healthy dash of Keanu here), but there’s also a not-so-surprising element of wit and self-awareness that helps propel the film beyond typical action fare, placing it squarely among other great B-list action flicks like Upgrade. Though the dialogue is definitely hammy, it almost felt satirical with its self-awareness and humor – the script isn’t perfect, but we can’t fault the film when it’s just so much fun.

Between some truly spectacular needle-drops to quippy one-liners to morbid sight gags, Nobody’s commitment to hamming things up almost makes it feel like a classic action film you might’ve expected studios to churn out in the 80s or 90s. Whether or not it’s intended to be slightly satirical is certainly up for debate, there’s an undeniable vivacity and self-awareness that elevates Nobody and keeps audiences on their toes in the best way possible.

Of course, helping to tie everything together is Bob Odenkirk, around whom the entire film revolves. Though Hutch Mansell isn’t as meaty a character as Jimmy McGill, Odenkirk’s uncanny ability to control every twitch and quirk of his face is on full display – as always, he speaks volumes through his expression without having to say much at all. He brings a depth and humanity to Hutch that likely wouldn’t be found with another actor – though he also hams things up when he needs to, selling the cheesy one-liners with the requisite gusto.

And, in the grand tradition of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s schlubby-comedian-to-action-star-pipeline, Odenkirk beefed up for the role and it pays off – though a year ago we might’ve had a difficult time wrapping our heads around the idea of Odenkirk as an action star, he’s incredibly believable in the role and brings a surprising physicality – though the way he moves still bleeds with the character’s tiredness and time away from the game – a testament to his acting talent, even in the middle of a firefight.

The rest of the cast is solid but not particularly memorable – with the exception of Christopher Lloy’ds surly father figure David, and the charismatic Russian mobsters Hutch finds himself up against – Yulian Kuznetsov (Aleksey Serebryakov), and his newly-appointed crony Pavel (Araya Mengesha). Connie Nielsen is endearing as Hutch’s wife Becca, though we might’ve liked to see a little more of her character – there’s certainly potential for a ‘husband and wife team up to kick ass’ sequel here.

When it comes to the action itself, Nobody certainly doesn’t slouch – slickly choreographed and creatively shot – often brutal and making ample use of some particularly grizzly deaths. Still, the fights are as varied as they are energetic, and will certainly do more than whet the appetite of anybody looking to watch Bob Odenkirk make heads roll for an hour and a half.

Though it may not be reinventing the wheel, Nobody is a perfectly pulse-pounding blend of action and wit, made all the better by a charismatic performance from Odenkirk – definitely proving that he does, in fact, have the chops to be a movie star.

Are you planning to give Nobody a look? Let us know in the comments!