Film Review: A Man Called Otto

 Film Number 2 of 2023

The Movie: A Man Called Otto

The Cinema: Hoyts Victoria Gardens

Stars: 4 with a hankie. 

Audiences are going to fall into two groups with this film. Those who have read Fredrik Backman's A Man Called Ove (pronounced "Oover"- like Hoover) and those who have not. I love the Fredrik Backman's books, so during this lovely little tale, I was doing direct comparisons with the book. (By the way, my favourite Fredrik Backman book is My Grandmother Sends Her Regards and Apologises. He writes from the heart.)

Needless to say, you don't have to have read the book to enjoy this - in fact you may be better off for it. 

So, what is this about? 

According to imdb.com "Otto is a grump who's given up on life following the loss of his wife and wants to end it all. When a young family moves in nearby, he meets his match in quick-witted Marisol, leading to a friendship that will turn his world around."

And that is pretty much it. You soon realise that Otto (Tom Hanks), as Marisol (Mariana Trevino) says, is "Pretty bad at dying." I know it is bad to make fun of people who have suicidal tendencies, but Otto has a run of bad, or maybe good luck that keeps him alive, and eventually gives him a reason to live. 

Sounds a bit glum. It's not. This is a film about love and community and acceptance and hope. Just like the book. 

As time goes on, the optimistic and capable Marisol starts to integrate Otto the grump into her family's lives, and the life of the community. The great thing about Otto is that he's not a bad bloke - he just likes things the way he likes them and he's a man of few words. 

The other thing the movie does well is explain Otto's back story with his wife Sonya, who you get to know through a series of flashbacks.

As somebody who's read the book, I can see the similarities and the differences. The story itself is true to the book. But its location has been moved from a small town in Sweden to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

The bigger jolt is the character of Marisol, a woman of Mexican extraction, has replaced Parvenah, an Iranian import in the book. I'm sure this was only done for the sake of the American audiences - it was okay, and it worked well, but purists may get their nose out of joint. The other thing that was mentioned was in the book, Malcolm was gay - in this, he's trans. Again, a minor point in a book about community and family. (I liked the change, Jay didn't - oh well.)

In all, this is a charming film. Tom Hanks is great as the irascible Otto. It's a role he was born to play. I can't see anybody else doing Ove justice - he's got the right amount of grumpiness mixed in with a wonderful humanity. 

I also don't remember the book having much to do with the corporate takeover of the community, which was played up here with the badly named "Dye & Merica" corporation taking over things - this was a bit heavy handed. 

Oh, the other thing. Take tissues. I blubbed through this film. It's not that it's sad. It just restores a bit of your faith in humanity. 

Today's song.