Anti-Forest Gump. Should I watch the movie “A Man Called Otto”?

Today at the Ukrainian box office begins a new movie with Tom Hanks – “A Man Named Otto”. Journalist Focus visited the pre-premiere screening and is ready to talk about the advantages and disadvantages of a comedy drama.

First of all, it should be noted that “A Man Named Otto” is based on the novel “Ove’s Second Life” by Fredrik Backman. The first film adaptation of the same name was screened in 2015 in the author’s homeland, Sweden, and was subsequently nominated for an Oscar for best foreign film.

Second, Hollywood got the film adaptation director Mark Forster (“Monster’s Ball”, “Fairyland”). It turned out to be no worse and no better. It turned out to be a film with Tom Hanks, as in other films with his participation, in which all the events and emotional palette of the script are built around the personality of the actor. In short, when it comes to movies starring Tom Hanks, we always watch a movie about Tom Hanks, and “A Man Named Otto” is no exception.

The plot focuses on Otto (Tom Hanks), who is no longer young and preparing to retire. We meet him first at the local glue shop, where he tries to get a rope, with intriguing results. A grumpy old man who refuses to keep up with the times and pulls out evil from everyone around him. A man named Otto is just that…at first, at least. But we soon discover that this is a movie about the bleak existence of an elderly widow who lives a life stuck in uncertainty and losing her place in the world. Fortunately, it soon finds new meanings.

Marisol (Mariana Treviño), her husband Tommy (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo) and their two daughters turn Otto’s life upside down when the Mendez family moves in and settles across from Otto’s apartment. These are annoyingly funny neighbors who always want to borrow a key or need help with a window. You don’t need to be a prophet to know what’s next, as director Mark Forster uses nearly every moving cliché in the book to bring Otto’s changing perspective on life to the minds of viewers.

Between short episodes with the new neighbors, we see Otto helplessly upset. The hero lost his wife Sonya (Rachel Keller) less than a year ago and has become the shadow of the man he once was, and we learn about him from many flashbacks. In a way, it’s easy to compare A Man Called Otto to one of Hanks’ most famous films – it’s essentially the opposite of Forrest Gump.

Otto is definitely at the other end of the happiness spectrum. “A Man Named Otto” shows the viewer the best moments of Otto’s life, but the story begins at the other end of the lived years. From the character’s memories, we learn why the character of Tom Hanks is the way he is and about the love of his life, Sonia.

Of the unpleasant ones, it is worth noting the fact that there is nothing truly unique in this movie. That doesn’t mean “A Man Named Otto” doesn’t deserve attention or can be attributed to paintings labeled “wasted time”. It touches the core and it will be hard for you not to burst into tears at the end. But the picture is poor in unexpected twists and turns. On the contrary, the direction of the final curtain is already broadcast somewhere in the middle of the picture, and everything we see is very familiar to us.

Should I watch the movie “A Man Called Otto”?

Yes if:

• Do you love Tom Hanks?
• You are influenced by the style of Scandinavian melodramas (preserved in this film)
• You haven’t seen a touching movie in a long time that you could shed tears while watching.

no if:

• You don’t like American adaptations of European movies or you’ve already seen Uwe’s Second Life. In many ways, the Swedish original is more heartfelt and poignant.