Luke McWilliams gives his review of the 2022 comedy-drama, A Man Called Otto, starring Tom Hanks.

In a cul-de-sac apartment community, the old and grumpy widower Otto Anderson (Tom Hanks) fastidiously maintains the neighbourhood’s needs. Before resolving to join his recently late wife, Otto is distracted by a new family noisily moving in next door.

This awards season ushers in several movies that include stories celebrating Hollywood’s golden years and industry (The Fabelmans, Empire of Light and Babylon), those that ridicule it (Triangle of Sadness), and remakes of a safe bet. This movie is a remake of the Oscar-nominated 2015 Swedish film and, at first, seems like a lazy rehash of Ebenezer Scrooge’s character growth, especially given the recent season. From the outset, however, the movie establishes itself with a very dark sense of humour: Otto is frequently interrupted in his quest to join his long-lost love by simple occurrences of life.

The vivacious Marisol (Mariana Treviño) is an explosion of colour, whipping into Otto’s life and sharing parts of hers through simple dishes that spark a small light in Otto. Through flashbacks, we learn exactly where Otto came from and what he went through to end up where, and who, he is. Conversely battling to end his life and the neighbouring estate’s gradual takeover of the community Otto had once helped build, this Grinch slowly awakens to the small moments of life that surround him and, like Up, discovers that perhaps a life of his own can go on too.

Verdict: A satisfying and surprisingly touching character study of a grump. 4 stars.

Luke McWilliams themovieclub.net.