‘Nobody’ offers nothing new, except for its star

Photo : Bob Odenkirk stars in the action/revenge film “Nobody.” (Photo/Universal Pictures)

Movie review : “Nobody,” directed by Ilya Naishuller, starring Bob Odenkirk, Connie Nielsen, Aleksy Serebryakov, Christopher Lloyd, RZA. Playing in theaters and streaming on various sites.

The other day, in the middle of reading an article about the ethics involved in what is being called the “first human-monkey hybrid embryo,” I quickly switched to the website produced by the comic news group The Onion . I often do that when I desperately need a quick bit of comic relief.

And these days, that need seems to be more and more urgent. If it isn’t science that foresees a real-life “Planet of the Apes” scenario or threats posed by newly discovered COVID-19 variants that feed my angst, it’s the ongoing grandstanding by fact-challenged, conspiracy-minded Congressional representatives that permeates the headlines.

Above all, though, are the reports of yet another mass shooting, leaving the dead and wounded, not to mention attendant broken, grieving families being offered little more than another round of the usual “thoughts and prayers.”

Even the movies don’t seem to be making any real effort to offer a respite, which the recent opening of the film “Nobody” proves. Directed by Ilya Naishuller , and written by Derek Kolstad – the screenwriter responsible for the “John Wick” series – “Nobody” is another gun-happy orgy of violence that isn’t near as clever nor original as it wants to be.

This is despite the fact that the film features a unique twist: It stars Bob Odenkirk , a longtime comic presence, having been (among other things) a standup performer, an Emmy Award-winning writer for “Saturday Night Live” and a partner working with David Cross in HBO’s “Mr. Show.” In a career-turning change of pace, Odenkirk also starred as the character Saul Goodman in the AMC cable series “Breaking Bad” and in the spinoff “Better Call Saul.”

In “Nobody,” Odenkirk stars as Hutch Mansell, the auditor for a small, family-owned company who seemingly lives a regular life. Married to Becca (played by Connie Nielsen ), he is the father of two, a teenage boy and a much younger girl – only the latter of whom shows him any real attention and affection.

Far beyond continually missing the garbage collector, Hutch’s life becomes complicated one night when a pair of thieves breaks into his home. The couple threatens his family with a gun – and he responds with what is a sensible bit of restraint. This, though, doesn’t win him any fans. Especially unimpressed is his son (played by Gage Munroe). But it does begin to awaken in him long-repressed feelings. And when it appears that the thieves have stolen his daughter’s kitty-cat bracelet, those feelings take over.

In short order, Hutch contacts someone on a secret radio (turns out it’s his half-brother Harry, played by the hip-hop artist RZA), he visits his former FBI agent father (played by Christopher Lloyd), tracks down the thieves and, totally frustrated in himself, ends up confronting a gang of Russian tough guys on a city bus. Why are the toughs Russians? Because – of course they are.

This all leads to our discovering, which should come as no surprise, that Hutch is far from what he seems. And that even though he has now attracted the attention of a fearsome Russian mobster – played by Aleksy Serebryakov – he’s in no real danger of suffering anything more than a bruised face and a non-fatal stab wound … or two.

Meanwhile, true to the aesthetic sensibilities of the man who dreamed up Keanu Reeves’ master of mayhem, John Wick, “Nobody” devolves into one long celebration of violence, with human flesh shredded by everything from claymore mines and hurled steel projectiles to an armorer’s orgasm of automatic weapons.

In fact, take Odenkirk out of the equation, and “Nobody” features basically the same plot as the first “John Wick” installment – though this time Kolstad is far kinder both to family members and to pets. That Odenkirk’s Hutch is a guy trying his best to be just an average sort, even if that is far from what he actually is, does makes a bit of a difference. And, yes, it is entertaining to watch him slowly realize that trying to live an ordinary life may not have been his best decision.

Yet, ultimately, “Nobody” does nothing original beyond that. Naishuller does affect a nostalgic feel by using such classic songs as Pat Benatar’s “Heartbreaker,” Nina Simone singing “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood,” “You’ll Never Walk Alone” by Gerry & the Pacemakers and, most obvious of all, Steve Lawrence singing “I’ve Gotta Be Me” to underscore Kolstad’s plot points. But that’s been done before and far less transparently (think Quentin Tarantino ).

Ultimately, it all amounts to barely half a smile, one that is muted by an ending that screams obvious sequel, and even more so by the news being reported in today’s lurid headlines.

So, excuse me now as I switch over to The Onion. I need a quick hit of laugh therapy.