It has been quite a while since I heard anything about Tom Hanks that wasn't just related to his weird, controversial son that kept gaining media traction. And the name Tom Hanks is one that I always associate with the 80s, the older films in the man's career, and I'm sure the ones people enjoy the most. Turner and Hooch, Cast Away, and of course Forest Gump being the films that immediately come to mind for most. Aside from some occasional voice acting work that most probably would not notice. I have to admit, I quite like a lot of the films from the younger Tom Hanks. They have a certain appeal to them that came with the era and culture. Not to forget to mention the fact that Hollywood just was a bit more fun and relaxed. But Tom Hanks had his own charm to the early blockbuster that made family films a joy. Though with recent years, and a very clearly aged Tom Hanks, I can't say I have really followed much of what he has done.
Old age for a comedic actor can be a difficult thing, as they are rarely relatable enough for Hollywood to want to gamble on, with a comedic role being less likely to sell due to limitations. Leslie Nielson being a very rare exception, though of course again it was a different time. With older actors these days comes two options: they either become actors that play themselves in sad cameo roles in various pop culture media, or they attempt to break into something a bit more serious that utilises their age in the character and story. For most, the cameo route is where they end up, and sometimes you'll see them pursuing the other route in which they spend more time either behind the camera in a directing or producer position and acting. Tom Hanks has had a bit of more serious roles in the past, however. And I'd have to say that A Man Named Otto feels a bit inspired by those prior stories that carried some heartfelt moments alongside lighthearted comedy.
Though pulling magic from prior hits doesn't always work in A Man Named Otto, and it can feel a bit of a drag as it struggles to get to the point, having established its foundations relatively early on in its runtime.
A Man Called Otto
A Man Named Otto reminded me a bit of Clint Eastwood's -- and I'd refer to them here as boomer films -- boomer bait films that recycle the same general idea of passing down the American torch to a middle to lower class set of migrants. With an aged, bitter man that seems incapable of letting the past go, ultimately roaming through life as nothing but a burden on others as he ruins the fun from life. Always angry and treating others like they're lesser than him. Tom Hanks plays Otto, the bitter old man that lives down a small road surrounded by modern housing development that seems to have its eyes set on the small street. It sets up this idea that America is dying, being swallowed up for profit and losing its colour. Our protagonist Otto reflecting this as everything modern seems stupid and insufferable to him. Clashing with everyone and everything that ends up within his path, the first quarter of the film just displays Otto as someone horrible. But truthfully, for much of his complaints, I actually found myself understanding his character really easily. Not sure if it was good or bad or not for a while, eventually we get a bit more of a shift in his character as his rudeness exacerbates.
A young Hispanic family moves in opposite of Otto and seem rather energetic and demanding. Promoting their culture and kindness into Otto who seems to reject it as much as possible, with no real success in getting them to move on. Counter to this are scenes in which Otto is preparing to kill himself. It's also around here that additional context regarding Otto comes to play. Showing us that the real reason behind Otto's mean nature stems from a life of pain and misery as a result of the loss of his wife. The film tells us this pretty early on, but it clings to the past with much dependence. Showing scenes that serve as flashbacks to better times for a young Otto, staging his life around his love and generally quite happy. I noticed some strangeness in the directing within both the past and present, where perhaps budget issues led to much of the film having special effects for the environments. In a way things being too colourful or looking a bit too tidy and just not that realistic. This was something I noticed often, but didn't find too distracting. In a way it added to the idea that much of the film takes place in one general area; and this area holds no real weight to Otto's character. Ultimately not being real to him. This is me just pulling at strings, but it works!
With Otto in a perpetual state of wanting and attempting to end his life, it seems those around him seem to appear at the worst time to stop him, unknowingly of course. Resulting. In Otto being pulled back into reality where people actually need him. Where he serves as backbone to the community that he mostly rejects. Slowly, but surely, coming to accept them and display some basic empathy towards them. Their kindness to him showing that there is still some good in the world for him to put his own emotion and effort into. But the problem here is, that while these characters are written and even performed very well for the most part, the film just stretches on a bit too long. It seems the main point is made by the halfway mark and we just linger on; again to pull at strings we can say that this makes us, the audience, feel similar to Otto who is done with life and wants to move on. Where we feel that we have seen all there is to see. However, I still feel the film goes on for too long. To the point where you'll notice you start wanting something to happen. Knowing something is coming but the film only shares moments you've essentially already seen: Otto helps someone, is angry about it, but helps them again later.
With some of the editing and acting I couldn't help but notice similarities to Tom Hanks' other performances in the past. And the film does feel like this to some degree. With characters that seem authentic, but a protagonist that is rather wild and perhaps slightly exaggerated. I'd say it works sometimes, making you feel for the characters and engaged in the story. But the constant changes to flashbacks are what pull you out of that emotion and immersion. So it's easy to feel a bit disconnected from it all in parts, but surely it gets somewhere and comes to a conclusion. To which you will probably feel the same as I do. Having enjoyed the film but felt it tried too much when really it had all it needed to begin with.
A Man Named Otto isn't a bad film; though I'd argue it does have a bad few scenes where it just screamed that some Hollywood executed insisted on some modern youthful issues popped up. I found myself rolling my eyes around this scene that I won't mention. But if you see the film you'll likely know what I mean. I think it's a film that's pretty much okay, that could have definitely been much worse. But cold have been just a little bit better. Tom Hanks in his age still has it, and I think his grumpy role suits him and his voice quite decently. But I don't think he's fit for serious roles.
