Right from the start, audiences will know what A Man Called Otto is. A grumpy old man who is dealing with the loss of his wife, and who just doesn't want to live anymore. It is a shame that Marc Forster's melodrama is front-loaded with numerous clichés and uninteresting filler because the final moments of 'Otto' are engaging. Forster was given a talented cast to reimagine this Fredrik Backman novel, but he never really knows what to do with them. The film plays out more like a primetime drama on NBC, rather than a tight, condensed experience for the big screen. A Man Called Otto isn't bad, but it isn't original either.
Otto (Tom Hanks) is tired of living. He recently lost his wife, his job, and his purpose. When he is not doing his daily rounds nagging his fellow neighbors, he isolates himself and avoids all the idiots out in the real world. When a new family moves in across the street, they start coming to Otto for help. Marisol (Mariana Treviño), the matriarch of the family, uses her kindness (and food) to slowly win Otto over. With all this new activity in the neighborhood, Otto starts to reconsider his dire plans.
It is a shame that this film doesn't hit harder because the performances of Hanks and Treviño are wonderful. Although Hanks puts on his usual great performance, the show is stolen by his counterpart. Treviño, playing a pregnant mother with no time to rest, is impressive throughout. The characters' relationship is highlighted by a touching scene while Marisol is learning how to drive, which not unsurprisingly, is where the movie finds its footing. The great acting doesn't stop with Hanks and Treviño; most of the cast is solid.
The Final act of A Man Called Otto is pretty engrossing; the characters start to feel real, and Otto's purpose starts to take shape. By the time the end credits roll, viewers will wish that the film would have offered more in its lead-up. Forster's adaptation focuses too much on needless filler instead of truly developing and showing off these characters. There seems to be so much more under the surface with Otto, and the slow drip-feed of this past is not the best way to get the audience to feel for him.
'Otto' is worth seeing, maybe for the performances alone, but it probably won't be very memorable. The grumpy old man routine has been played by countless actors in countless films, and it would take something special to stand out in the "genre." Unfortunately, this one just doesn't stick.