A Man Called Otto Review

Theatrical review

In September of 2016, the television show “This Is Us” premiered. It was the story of a family, spanning decades. Every week, audiences would tune in to see how the Pearsons would make them laugh and think and, of course, cry. It was a well-written and well-performed show that garnered numerous Emmy nominations and four wins. I thought a lot about that show as I was watching Marc Forster’s new film, “A Man Called Otto.”

Otto Anderson (Tom Hanks) is a widower whose wife Sonya (Rachel Keller) died six months ago. He misses her desperately and longs to join her in the hereafter, but in the meantime, he argues with hardware store employees about a foot of rope, with customer service representatives about six days of utility use, and anyone who drives through his neighborhood without a parking permit. It is about to do the latter with a young family, only to discover that Tommy (Manual Garcia-Rulfo), Marisol (Mariana Trevino), and their daughters Abbie (Alessandra Perez) and Luna (Christiana Montoya) are moving in. Not only are they moving into his neighborhood, but into his life. Through the course of the film, Otto struggles with the anger and sadness of the loss of his wife, and the connections that he is discovering outside his door.

Hanks is a masterful actor, and this was no exception. His perpetual scowl is already impressive, but through that, he manages to convey deep heartache that truly makes us believe that he has lost the love of his life. Trevino is a beautiful contrast to his gruffness, bringing an ebullient energy to the screen that makes you want to be her best friend. The supporting cast, including the moocher neighbor Jimmy (Cameron Britton), trans ex-student Malcolm (Mack Bayda), and social media journalist Barb (Kailey Hyman), all add color and humor to this film that really tug on your heart-strings.

This is a movie that deals with heavy topics very directly, including suicide and infant loss, which can be difficult subjects to handle, but I felt like the movie treated them gently. They didn’t feel exploitative, which is always the concern when including them in a story. That said, some of the imagery is quite stark, so please use your best judgment about how this might impact your viewing experience.

I went into this movie expecting a formula, and I got a formula. But it was a formula that was executed well. It reminded me of chocolate chip cookies. They are all more or less the same, but a cookie made with quality ingredients and in just the right proportions can provide comfort even in, or perhaps because of, its predictability. “A Man Called Otto” isn’t pushing any boundaries or making any statements that we haven’t heard before, but in a time where it feels like it can be hard to know, let alone trust, our neighbors, it is a lovely reminder that we are all in this together.