A Special Re-Visit of “A Man Called Otto” for Wyoming County Reads
- Matt Palmer
- Feb 18
- 2 min read
The film is showing at the Dietrich Theater on Feb. 18 at 1 pm and 7 pm.
Streaming services: Hulu-Disney Plus/HBO Max/various PVOD services
For this year’s Wyoming County Reads program, the Frederik Backman novel “A Man Called Ove” has been selected for this year’s book. On February 18th (today), the Dietrich Theater will be showing the 2022 adaptation of “A Man Called Otto.”
So, for this special film event, I wanted to revisit the Tom Hanks film that I also initially reviewed for the Examiner a few years ago. And, quick side note, since March is National Reading Month, I will be checking out a couple films based on books. So, make sure to keep a look out for those and keep checking my Wyoming County Press Examiner reviews Facebook page for what those film adaptations will be!
Based on the comical and moving New York Times bestseller, “A Man Called Otto” tells the story of Otto Anderson, a grumpy widower whose only joy comes from criticizing and judging his exasperated neighbors.
When a lively young family moves in next door, he meets his match in quick-witted and very pregnant Marisol, leading to an unexpected friendship that will turn his world upside down.
I remember really enjoying this 2022 film adaptation of the novel when I initially checked it out in theaters. “A Man Called Otto” delivers a truly heart-warming blend of humor and emotional depth, an uplifting story of community and finding purpose after loss. The film also serves as a feel-good, tear-jerking drama that offered an emotional release through the transformation of the main character, Otto Anderson.
One aspect of the film that makes it a memorable watch is seeing Tom Hanks stepping outside his usual nice guy persona to play a grump, yet still can make him truly relatable and sympathetic. Otto’s sympathetic side also provides a heartfelt emotional arc for him as the film is a story of a man grieving his wife and ultimately finding joy through his new neighbors, which is genuinely uplifting, moving and emotional.
“A Man Called Otto” also gives us quite a few memorable moments that easily will make
us either laugh or even tear up some. There’s a scene where Otto instructs a pregnant Marisol on how to drive that can give the viewer a few chuckles. We also see quite a few moments where Otto begins to slowly live a little and help others throughout the neighborhood (including protecting his older neighbors, Anita and Reuben, from a corrupt real estate agency).
Throughout the film, we get to see several flashbacks that reveal Otto’s deep love for his late wife, Sonya, which also provides context for his grumpy demeanor. We also see how, after Sonya’s death, Otto has made several attempts to be with her again and each time he makes an attempt, it gets thwarted.
“A Man Called Otto” is a poignant, sentimental comedy-drama about a grieving, rule-obsessed widower who regains his sense of purpose through unexpected, heart-warming connections with new neighbors. As a remake of the Swedish film “A Man Called Ove,” the film also focuses on themes of community, love, and emotional healing, with another strong performance from Hanks.
MPA: Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material involving suicide attempts, and language (runtime 126 minutes)
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