Nobody 2 (2025)

​“Nobody 2” stars Bob Odenkirk, Connie Nielsen, John Ortiz, RZA, Colin Hanks, Christopher Lloyd, and Sharon Stone.  Releasing on August 15, 2025, the film follows Hutch Mansell as he protects his family while on vacation.

The film is directed by Timo Tjahjanto, who also directed films such as “May the Devil Take You”, “The Night Comes for Us”, and “The Shadow Strays”.  It is a sequel to the 2021 action thriller, “Nobody”.  With everything going on during the summer—work commitments, humid weather, and household chores—we can all benefit from a refreshing getaway every now and then.  However, just when we thought all our stress had been thrown out the window, there’s often someone or something eager to bring it right back.  Even as a nobody, it seems like we can’t catch a break in enjoying a single day of relaxation without anyone trying to kill us.  Four years ago, David Leitch’s 87North Productions introduced audiences to yet another John Wick clone that featured Bob Odenkirk transitioning from a former lawyer turned con artist to an “average” family man with a hidden talent for being a lethal assassin.  The result is a straightforward yet entertaining action thriller that reminds us that nobody should judge a family man by his everyday mannerisms, and I mean “nobody”.  It may not have been a box office sensation due to its release timing during the COVID pandemic.  However, it garnered enough success to spawn a sequel, where Odenkirk continues his quest to brutalize his enemies in pursuit of the vacation he truly deserves.  With that said, let’s see if this action-packed vacation is worth the trip.

The story is set four years after the events of its predecessor, where Hutch Mansell (Odenkirk) and his family have settled into their new home.  However, Hutch’s past as a former government assassin resurfaces, as he works to pay off his debt to a criminal organization following his confrontation with the Russian mob.  This resulted in Hutch being drifted apart from his wife, Becca (Nielsen), and their kids, Brady (Gage Munroe) and Sammy (Paisley Cadorath).  Hutch then decided to take his family on a short getaway to a theme park from his childhood in hopes of escaping his violent history.  Unfortunately, their tranquil vacation takes an unexpected turn when a confrontation with some bullies leads Hutch to uncover a hidden bootlegging operation run by a merciless crime boss, Lendina (Stone).  With the help of his adopted brother Harry (RZA) and their father David (Lloyd), Hutch must once again tap into his assassin skills to protect his family from Lendina’s wrath.

It’s understandable that “Nobody” was essentially another “John Wick” imitator that existed because of the latter’s widespread popularity.  However, I must admit that I thoroughly enjoyed it for what it was.  It’s undeniably violent for sure, but it’s also well-executed regarding its action sequences and charm, effectively showcasing Bob Odenkirk’s charismatic transformation into an action star.  Not to mention, it highlighted Ilya Naishuller’s adeptness in directing intense action with precision and dynamic energy, avoiding over-reliance on quick cuts and shaky camera techniques.  That alone was one of the reasons for my interest in its sequel, despite my concerns that it might be another cash grab.  The other reason was the involvement of Indonesian filmmaker Timo Tjahjanto, who makes his English-language debut with “Nobody 2”.  Having watched “The Night Comes for Us” and “The Shadow Strays” on Netflix, I was thoroughly impressed by the authentic and intensely dynamic action choreography in those films.  The excessive violence might be off-putting to some viewers, but those who appreciate international action cinema will find it to be one hell of an experience.  These films convinced me that Tjahjanto is a fitting choice to continue the adventures of our favorite “nobody”.  

But is he enough to make this late-summer vacation worthwhile?  Regarding the action sequences, most definitely.  Much like the first film, “Nobody 2” enhanced the narrative of a seemingly ordinary family man battling corrupt villains with unrelenting violence and slick cinematography by Callan Green.  Although there were moments where shaky camera work threatened to undermine the brutal allure, Tjahjanto successfully maintained the violent momentum with the dynamic, white-knuckled prowess seen in his previous projects.  More importantly, he infused the action with enjoyable humor derived from the violence and Odenkirk’s charisma, delivering a lasting, savage appeal that’s as exhilarating as a water slide full of blood.  It may not reach the heights of Tjahjanto’s previous works like “The Shadow Strays”, but “Nobody 2” further demonstrated the filmmaker’s remarkable ability to craft intricate choreography and brutality, even if slightly constrained by Hollywood’s contemporary genre norms.  I would even argue that his direction has heightened my interest in his forthcoming projects, including the sequel to “The Beekeeper”.

The story, on the other hand, is where the sequel lost some of its “ordinary guy who’s a former assassin” mojo, particularly in terms of concept and character development.  Much like its predecessor and other films from 87North Productions, “Nobody 2” is more intent on entertaining its audience through action-packed spectacle and brutally delightful violence, with the narrative serving mainly to connect these sequences.  If you’re familiar with the production company’s earlier works, there’s a high chance you’ll find what you expect in “Nobody 2”: high-octane action and authentic choreography taking precedence over substantial storytelling.  While it’s far from a bad thing when referring to films such as “John Wick”, “Violent Night”, and “The Fall Guy”, others like “Day Shift” and “Love Hurts” proved that the formula doesn’t always guarantee success.  “Nobody 2”, unfortunately, falls into the latter category due to its overly tight and underdeveloped narrative.  Although it’s not as frustrating as “Love Hurts”, “Nobody 2” is another scenario that provides more of the same without much innovation in its characters or world-building.

The screenplay, written by Derek Kolstad and Aaron Rabin, provided some interesting plot elements that could have enriched the experience through character development.  In addition to Hutch’s childhood connection to Plummerville, “Nobody 2” portrayed his struggle to leave behind his violent tendencies and create normal, happy memories with his family.  This was particularly evident in his relationship with his son Brady, whom he hopes will learn to solve problems without resorting to violence.  It’s pretty ironic considering that all Hutch does is solve issues by punching people in the face.  The narrative is intended to illustrate that not all problems can be solved through violence, as Hutch learns the hard way when Lendina targets him and his family due to his violent interference.  But, I’m pretty sure that most people don’t go into it for an award-winning story with a thought-provoking message.  They want to see Bob Odenkirk knock someone’s teeth out for 89 minutes straight and nothing more.  There’s no doubt that they’ll be satisfied with what it provides.  However, when it fails to utilize its ideas, character depth, and stakes to their full potential, it can become rather tiring quickly for those craving a robust plot to justify the violence.

As previously noted, “Nobody 2” has a respectable duration of 89 minutes, which is three minutes shorter than its predecessor.  Typically, action sequels are often longer than their original films for the sake of being bigger in their spectacles, but clearly, that’s not the case for “Nobody 2”.  While it deserves recognition for avoiding the common pitfall of unnecessarily extending its runtime, it also could have benefited from a slightly longer runtime to fill in specific narrative gaps that were left behind.  There were occasions where its character moments felt rushed and underdeveloped, which diminished the emotional impact of their arcs.  Additionally, the editing lacked consistency, disrupting the flow and momentum of its transitions.  Consequently, it provided a rather awkward pace that’s quicker in transitioning to the next action set piece rather than taking its time to savor its family moments in between.  It’s reminiscent of a child’s experience at a theme park.  They don’t want to take a break or relax; they just want to have fun and enjoy as many rides as possible.  The shorter runtime may align with the film’s straightforward concept, appealing to those in the mood for quick, nonstop action and hilarity.  However, it also poses the risk of tripping over its half-baked narrative trappings repeatedly from running too fast by the pool, slightly undermining my overall enjoyment of the movie.

Regarding its cast, there were only a few standouts who were able to elevate the plot through their performances.  One of them was, of course, Bob Odenkirk, who continues to embody the charismatically badass and fierce nature of Hutch’s aggressive yet compassionate demeanor.  Although my prior exposure to Odenkirk’s works was limited, I still admire him for his attempts at being a cinematic action hero with “Nobody” and its sequel.  Christopher Lloyd also provided some amusing moments as David, expanding on his character from the first movie, and RZA as Harry delivered another satisfying moment in his action scene, despite having limited screen time.  Sharon Stone, known by many as one of the popular sex symbols of the 90s, shed her femme fatale image in favor of Lendina’s merciless and delightfully evil persona.  The result was just as satisfying to watch as Bob Odenkirk’s Hutch, providing me with a villain that was both formidable and worthy of Stone’s commendable talents.  Despite the script not living up to the villain’s capabilities, Stone’s performance as Lendina was a wickedly delightful highlight that emphasizes the enjoyment of a simplistic good-versus-evil trope.  Additionally, John Ortiz and Colin Hanks were suitable additions to the cast as Wyatt Martin and Sheriff Abel, respectively, with Wyatt offering the most amount of development.

Overall, “Nobody 2” lacks the storytelling thrills and consistent momentum to create fond memories of its cinematic vacation, but it offers enough satisfaction in its bloody theme park brawl to appease the action crowd.  This is another film from 87North that emphasizes action and stunt choreography over providing a narrative that matches the thrill of its stunts, which can be seen as both a strength and a weakness, depending on people’s expectations.  From my perspective, “Nobody 2” doesn’t fully utilize its ideas and character moments to fill in the gaping narrative holes caused by its overly tight pacing and underdeveloped script.  Nevertheless, there’s still some white-knuckled fun to be had in Hutch’s quest for a relaxing family vacation, particularly thanks to its entertaining cast, including Odenkirk and Stone.  Timo Tjahjanto also proved to be a solid choice in envisioning the slick and brutal violence through his direction, further enhancing my admiration for the filmmaker.  While I still prefer the first film for its plot and pacing, “Nobody 2” is anything but a nobody, though its noticeable flaws prevent it from reaching the same heights as its predecessor.  If you enjoyed the first film, there’s a good chance you’ll have a fun time with its sequel.  However, if you're looking for an action movie that strikes a balance between violence and storytelling, you may want to consider a different destination for your cinematic getaway.

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