It doesn’t look like it’s going to be very merry Christmas for Marc Foster’s ‘A Man Called Otto’ as the film’s embargo has lifted and reviews (save for a few exceptions) aren’t good.
Those exceptions are THR and Slash Film. Whereas, The Guardian, Variety, IndieWire, Slant, Screen, and AV Club are not down on the movie at all.
My take on ‘Otto’ is simple: Very middle of the road with some pleasing moments. Hanks trying to do “Gran Torino” but without the grit or grace of Clint Eastwood’s movie. It’s not even worth writing a review about this one.
Ever since his historic batch of Oscar nominated roles in the ‘90s, Hanks has struggled to garner the Academy’s attention these last 25 years.
Fact of the matter is that Hanks, the Jimmy Stewart of his generation, has still been delivering great performances despite the constant Oscar snubs. The last ten or so years, Hanks has given us “Captain Phillips,” “Bridge of Spies,” “A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood,” “The Post” and “Sully.” Not too shabby. His performance in ‘Otto’ is one of his weaker and lazier performances.
Set for a Christmas Day release, Forster’s remake has Hanks’ Otto forced to retire from his job of nearly 40 years after his wife dies. But his attempts at peace and tranquility are constantly interrupted by his annoying new neighbors.