A Man Called Otto

Name: A Man Called Otto
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: December 30, 2022
Duration: 126 min
Rating: 51
Cast: Cameron Britton, Elle Chapman, John Higgins, Josefine Lindegaard, Juanita Jennings

2022

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 36 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 33 Ratings

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7.3

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7.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 33 Ratings

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A Man Called Otto (UK Trailer 2)

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Movie Details & Credits

Columbia Pictures | Release Date: December 30, 2022 | PG-13

Starring: Cameron Britton, Elle Chapman, John Higgins, Josefine Lindegaard, Juanita Jennings, Kailey Hyman, Kelly Lamor Wilson, Lavel Schley, Lily Kozub, Mack Bayda, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Mariana Treviño, Max Pavel, Mike Birbiglia, Peter Lawson Jones, Rachel Keller, Tom Hanks, Tony Bingham

Summary: Otto Anderson (Tom Hanks) is a grumpy widower who is very set in his ways. When a lively young family moves in next door, he meets his match in quick-witted and very pregnant Marisol (Mariana Treviño), leading to an unlikely friendship that will turn his world upside-down. Experience a funny, heartwarming story about how some families comeOtto Anderson (Tom Hanks) is a grumpy widower who is very set in his ways. When a lively young family moves in next door, he meets his match in quick-witted and very pregnant Marisol (Mariana Treviño), leading to an unlikely friendship that will turn his world upside-down. Experience a funny, heartwarming story about how some families come from the most unexpected places.… Expand

Director: Marc Forster

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 126 min

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Critic Reviews

Kim Hughes

Jan 11, 2023

The film chronicles suicide in a surprisingly forthright and unflinching way, and it takes an unexpectedly long time to reach its foregone conclusion. Still, Otto’s sweet, sentimental tone is not unwelcomed in the depths of a winter dogged by troublesome headlines on all fronts. Read full review

The Playlist Lex Briscuso

Dec 29, 2022

It’s rare that we need two of essentially the same film, rarer than rare, but “A Man Called Otto” has earned a space in the list of worthy remakes for its big heart and emotionally charged performances that don’t skimp on the comedy. Read full review

Jeff Ewing

Dec 28, 2022

A Man Called Otto has its moments, both humorous and heartwarming, and it works better than it should due to the strength of its performances. Unfortunately, it's also plagued by choices that blunt its overall coherence, seeming like Forster wanted to make an entirely different kind of film than the material dictated. Read full review

IndieWire Jude Dry

Dec 28, 2022

While “Otto” may reach fresh audiences who’d otherwise balk at subtitles, this sluggish rendition is unlikely to inspire anyone to seek out the original. Read full review

Odie Henderson

Jan 4, 2023

As with so many foreign films that get the Americanized treatment, A Man Called Otto is completely defanged, eliminating the dark humor that made the original successful enough to command a remake. Read full review

Tim Grierson

Dec 28, 2022

Director Marc Forster lends this lightweight comedy-drama a crowd-pleasing breeziness, but the picture never cuts particularly deep, especially noticeable when it tries to tackle some darker subject matter. Audiences simply wanting an undemanding, reassuring entertainment may not mind, but Hanks’ change-of-pace role is intriguing enough to wish the material wasn’t quite so mawkish. Read full review

Kyle Smith

Dec 29, 2022

There’s laying it on thick, there’s laying it on with a trowel, and there’s laying it on like A Man Called Otto. Read full review

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User Reviews

BondiBuddha

Jan 7, 2023

Tom Hanks is a gem. The greatest actor totally convinces you of their role, no matter how improbable. Mr Hanks is the supreme master of this, be it in Forest Gump, A Beautiful Day in the neighborhood, or this heart-warming wrench at the soul. DO NOT MISS watching this.I laughed,I cried (moreTom Hanks is a gem. The greatest actor totally convinces you of their role, no matter how improbable. Mr Hanks is the supreme master of this, be it in Forest Gump, A Beautiful Day in the neighborhood, or this heart-warming wrench at the soul. DO NOT MISS watching this.I laughed,I cried (more than once) and I had to wait to the very end of the film, just in case. Mortality has never been so joyful to watch. Do not listen to the critics who say it a predictable film in a predictable role. They have only watched the film superficially. Death is predictable for us all...it has to happen...but it makes life worth living, as this film so amply points out.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

PamS9

Jan 6, 2023

Loved the emotion in this movie while also creating comedy moments in the darkest of times. Otto and Marisol can tell the whole story through expression. Best I've seen in a while.

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

SRF

Jan 9, 2023

I agree with Richard Roeper that “A Man Called Otto” is “… a small and warmhearted gem”.
Yes, this film does tug at the heartstrings quite a bit, but it also deals with many different aspects of the human condition. In a believable way it covers such topics/issues as suicide, love, loyalty,I agree with Richard Roeper that “A Man Called Otto” is “… a small and warmhearted gem”.
Yes, this film does tug at the heartstrings quite a bit, but it also deals with many different aspects of the human condition. In a believable way it covers such topics/issues as suicide, love, loyalty, friendship, loss/grief, forgiveness, and more. I was surprised that Tom Hanks was able to be so authentic in his role. The screenplay is excellent, as is the supporting cast, especially Mariana Trevino, who plays his pregnant neighbour. I would recommend this film to anyone who is interested in real human stories. Four of five stars from me!… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

TVJerry

Jan 17, 2023

Naturally, you'd expect an actor with a rep for being one Holllywood's nicest to be cast as this grumpy old man. Tom Hanks plays the title character who rigidly enforces his housing community’s rules and has never recovered from the loss of his beloved wife. As expected, people or eventsNaturally, you'd expect an actor with a rep for being one Holllywood's nicest to be cast as this grumpy old man. Tom Hanks plays the title character who rigidly enforces his housing community’s rules and has never recovered from the loss of his beloved wife. As expected, people or events have to change his extremely negative attitude and this happens primarily in terms of a new neighbor, played by Mariana Treviño. Her delightful spunk provides the film's best comedy, esp. opposite the appropriately cantankerous Hanks. While the story is predictable, it's written and directed with integrity. It's based on a Swedish film called A Man Called Ove and much of the same sentiments apply. Both are well directed (this one by the highly accomplished Marc Foster), nicely acted and sweetly told.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

iCampoRamil

Jan 29, 2023

Parecía que iba a ser una comedia más, y lo es, pero con unos toques muy muy dark y unas magníficas actuaciones, además de un trasfondo de los que merecen la pena, el encontrarle un nuevo sentido a la vida.

· Cosas buenas: las actuaciones, Tom Hanks y María Treviño son muy muy buenos, laParecía que iba a ser una comedia más, y lo es, pero con unos toques muy muy dark y unas magníficas actuaciones, además de un trasfondo de los que merecen la pena, el encontrarle un nuevo sentido a la vida.

· Cosas buenas: las actuaciones, Tom Hanks y María Treviño son muy muy buenos, la parte oscura que tiene le da un toque diferente, y los flashbacks, a contrario de todo el mundo, que no les gusta, a mi me gustan y es lo de da un buen hilo conductor a la película y su toque tierno, que nunca falte.
· Cosas malas: una vez que ves las costuras, no deja de ser bastante previsible. Si nos ponemos técnicos es muy televisiva y tiene poco cine.
· Conclusión: a mi me gustó mucho, no suelo ver mucho este estilo de películas, por eso no estoy saturado, pero si son de tu tipo, a lo mejor es un poco más de lo mismo.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JLuis_001

Dec 30, 2022

Tom Hanks recently stated that he had only made four very good films in his career and, jokes aside, he's not helping himself much in that regard with roles like this one.
Especially falling short of what the original Swedish film achieved with such little and ease.
A Man Called Otto is aTom Hanks recently stated that he had only made four very good films in his career and, jokes aside, he's not helping himself much in that regard with roles like this one.
Especially falling short of what the original Swedish film achieved with such little and ease.

A Man Called Otto is a story you can easily get into, but evidently it will never be believable enough.
This is mainly because it all comes down to Tom Hanks' character.

He is an excellent actor and although his character is not supposed to be charismatic, he knows how to sell it perfectly, but at the end of the day there's very little to go to, and beyond any predictability, if the character doesn't overcome a certain barrier with the viewer, and by that I mean that you fall for his whole attitude, then the movie will do very little for you.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

bored13

Jan 5, 2023

Doesn't quite connect. Good chemistry with the cast but overall the pacing and structure is very off putting. The flashbacks...

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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