Tom Hanks is Everybody’s Darling – but not in “A Man Called Otto”! Because in it he plays a grouchy pensioner who is disturbed by children playing. The film is the US remake of “A Man Called Ove”.
In the Hollywood remake of the Swedish cinema hit “A Man Called Ove”, Tom Hanks is cast completely against the grain for once, namely as a grumpy unsympathetic character. But the first impression is deceptive: in the course of the film “A Man Called Otto” discovers the soft core behind his hard shell…
Otto Anderson (Tom Hanks) is completely unpopular in his neighbourhood, because the grumpy pensioner has nothing better to do than report parking violations, check the correct waste separation and bark at playing children. But the widower begins to thaw as he builds a rather unexpected friendship with his new neighbours, especially the heavily pregnant Marisol (Mariana Treviño), who is not intimidated by Otto’s grumpy manner. But can Otto really change in his old age?
The trailer for “A Man Named Otto” has one major flaw…Tom Hanks no matter how ironically cast just can’t shake the “world’s nicest guy” persona. Seeing him attempt to be mean just comes off as “awww look at that nice guy faking it. Now say something sweet, Tom!” pic.twitter.com/ECZS3FOMFm
– The Nerdpocalypse (@ThoseNerds) October 20, 2022
“A MAN CALLED OVE” IS THE ORIGINAL
Those familiar with the Swedish film “A Man Called Ove”, which was nominated for Oscars in 2017 for Best Foreign Language Film and in the category of Best Makeup and Hairstyling, know the answer, of course. Now comes “A Man Called Otto”, the US remake with a star-studded cast – although strictly speaking it is a remake of the book instead of a remake of the film: the novel “A Man Called Ove” by Fredrik Backman landed on numerous bestseller lists worldwide.
“A Man Called Otto” by Marc Forster (“World War Z”) will be released in German cinemas on 2 February 2023, but in the US it will get a limited release on 25 December 2022 before it is then released nationwide on 13 January. And that is a clear indication: the studio Sony Pictures is hoping for Oscar nominations in 2023, because in order to be considered for them, a film must have been shown in cinemas by the end of the previous year.
In addition to Tom Hanks, Rachel Keller, Cameron Britton and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo are also in the cast. In addition to the German trailer embedded above, you can also watch the preview in the original English version here:
