A Man Called Otto (2022)

Director: Marc Forster

Starring: Tom Hanks, Mariana Treviño, Rachel Keller

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.

Tom Hanks stars as Otto, a grumpy man with an extreme case of OCD. Living alone, his story is told through his memories.

I guarantee you’re going to hate this character at first, but as wet get to know more about him, we also understand him better. He is missing his deceased wife and there is a reason why he does things in a certain way, or prefer things in a certain place. The longing and loneliness makes him suicidal. Despite this fact, though, the film never becomes morbid. There’s enough humour to lighten the mood, but also never too much to turn it into a comedy. It has a nice balance of humour and drama.

New neighbours Marisol (Mariana Treviño) and Tommy (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo) befriend him. At first he wants nothing to do with them, and I enjoyed the slow bonding between the characters. It felt natural and realistic. Marisol is such a lovey character!

‘A Man called Otto’ is a wonderfully uplifting film. Tom Hanks delivers an excellent performance as Otto. The film has a very good script, and a perfect choice of music. I really enjoyed this movie.

‘A Man called Otto’ won a Best Film award. Tom Hanks, off course, received a nomination for Best Actor, as did Mariana Trevino as Best Actress).

‘A Man called Otto’ earned $113.2 million on a $50 million budget.