Nobody 2 (2025) - Film Review

      Nobody 2, 2025.

      Directed by Timo Tjahjanto.

      Starring Bob Odenkirk, Connie Nielsen, Christopher Lloyd, John Ortiz, RZA, Sharon Stone, Colin Hanks, Gage Munroe, Paisley Cadorath, Colin Salmon, Jacob Blair, Daniel Bernhardt, Lucius Hoyos, and David MacInnis.

      SYNOPSIS:

      Hutch Mansell, a suburban father and former deadly assassin, is dragged back into his violent history after he interrupts a home invasion, triggering a series of events that reveal secrets about both his wife Becca’s past and his own.

      Nobody seems to know how to manage Nobody 2. With Timo Tjahjanto stepping in as director (known for his impressive contributions to Indonesian action cinema, having created far more engaging and intense works than this, some of which are available for streaming on Netflix) and given a potentially entertaining scenario of a family getaway turned into a survival battle for Hutch Mansell (played again by Bob Odenkirk), a former assassin working for the United States Intelligence Committee, the film disappointingly falls short. The film features action set pieces in varied locations, including arcades, duck boats, and mini-amusement/water parks, but ultimately it underwhelms.

      There’s the basic framework for an interesting story here: first, the family needs to bond more, as Hutch is missing valuable time due to his assassination work; and second, his teenage son Brady (Gage Munroe) alarmingly starts to emulate that violence, whether in sports at school or defending a girl from an abusive boyfriend. However, these threads are soon dropped in favor of a convoluted storyline about a tourist town involved in drug trafficking, overseen by Sharon Stone’s generic and ruthless character, Lendina.

      This situation naturally pushes Hutch into action, but this time, the violence lacks energy. Instead, it feels like a hollow cartoon unconcerned with human life, leading to disappointment since the first film (which was also penned by Derek Kolstad) took a thoughtful approach, slowly escalating until the character's pent-up violence finally erupted.

      Even with Brody developing a similar craving for brutality, the movie has a solid premise (especially since "Holiday Road" plays during promos, suggesting it might have been pitched as a National Lampoon’s Vacation-style Nobody, essentially a mix of John Wick and National Lampoon’s Vacation). Yet, this potential is squandered. A far more captivating angle would have involved the destruction and chaos on the way to the vacation spot.

      Focusing exclusively on the content provided, the most disappointing element is that, except for one painfully inventive kill on a slip-and-slide, most of the fights and shootouts are forgettable. This is the opposite of what one would expect from Timo Tjahjanto, a modern master of choreographing mayhem. In his defense, the script appears more interested in finding cheap ways to reintroduce characters like Christopher Lloyd’s FBI father (coasting on his beloved persona, mostly just sitting in a chair for most of the film, which is understandable considering his age) and Hutch's katana-wielding brother played by RZA.

      Part of the narrative also explores Hutch’s concerned wife Becca (Connie Nielsen, returning), who doubts whether he truly came for a break or is secretly working. This tension builds to a climax involving a Celine Dion song but ultimately doesn’t deliver.

      This isn’t to suggest that Nobody 2 is boring; it certainly has plenty of action and a reasonably brief runtime to keep it watchable, yet it is striking how unremarkable it is. Hutch’s young daughter Sammy (Paisley Cadorath) also appears, but her purpose primarily revolves around being hit in the head by an arcade attendant, triggering her father's outrage, which further advances this pointless plot.

      Nobody 2 is the kind of film that should have showcased Timo Tjahjanto's talent in Hollywood. Instead, it ends up feeling completely forgettable; mildly entertaining but entirely disposable. It’s fair to assert that nobody will remember it.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★

      Robert Kojder