A Man Called Otto

Movie review: A Man Called Otto
2022 film
Columbia Pictures
Cast: Tom Hanks as: Otto Anderson
Mariana Treveno as: Marisol
Rachel Keller plays: Sonya.
Genre: Comedy Drama.
A film by: Marc Forster
Screenplay by: David Magee
PG- 13
Reviewed by: Allen Klingelhoets

I never had chance to see “A Man Called Otto” in theater. I was happy to check out DVD at my local library. I found out in bonus section this was second film adaption of the 2012 novel “A man Called Ova” by Fredrik Backman after the Swedish film of the same name. The story starts showing Otto in hardware store buying rope. He is very grumpy towards store people and even person attempting to help him pay for rope. I found out depressed person. His wife passed away six months earlier. His wife was a school teacher. I think in high school. She could always see positive in students even when one student is transgender. That person becomes friends with Otto in story. Otto in early parts of story had no purpose in life. Otto plans to commit suicide by using rope bought at hardware store. This was very disturbing scene.

This idea ends when Otto gets new neighbors. Marisol and her husband are about early 30’s in age. They also have two young adolescent girls about under age of 8. Marisol is also pregnant in late stages of pregnancy with third child. Marisol helps bring purpose to Otto’s life. This might be by bringing over food or just checking up on Otto to see if okay. Otto begins to slowly come out of depression caused also by forced retirement at factory worked at for 30 years.

Otto still spent time at cemetery bringing flowers to his wife’s grave. He now though was more energetic. He had purpose. He lost some of that really cold distancing feeling. Otto even adopted a cat who was living outside at winter time. This was not love at first sight for cat. The cat almost froze outside in cold. Otto took cat into his house when other neighbor was allergic to cat. The cat bonded to Otto even though at first Otto did not want anything to do with cat. Otto slowly came out of depression. The movie also showed differences of opinions between Otto and one of his other neighbors. It was interesting to see how Otto got attached to social media site to help not only himself but neighbor.

The conclusion of movie was very sad. I think best to have Kleenix box close. I cried many tears. It was not even close to ending expected. I watched movie several times.

Story told in 2018 to 2023 time frame with flash backs to show how Otto met his wife and how they shared sometimes turmoil life.



Allen Klingelhoets