When Nobody landed in 2021, it felt like a cinematic ambush. Arriving without much hype, it turned out to be a brisk, brutal, and unexpectedly funny antidote to the brooding John Wick films. Where Wick was a mythic avenger bathed in neon gloom, Hutch Mansell was a schlubby suburban dad whose suppressed past as a highly trained killer, burst forth in an explosion of hammers, knives, and sardonic wit. The joy of that first film was in the discovery. Watching Bob Odenkirk (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul) slowly shed his mild-mannered skin and lean into a side of himself nobody expected.
In Nobody 2, Hutch is trying to leave his violent past behind and settle into a quiet life. But a family trip to a rundown waterpark quickly devolves into chaos when a minor scuffle spirals out of control. Soon, Hutch is pitted against local thugs, a crooked sheriff played by Colin Hanks, and a ruthless crime boss portrayed by Sharon Stone. The sequel promises more of the same bone-snapping brawls, inventive weapons, and dark humour that made the first film a hit.
The action here is every bit as slick and satisfying as before. Fights spill across gaudy waterpark attractions, family restaurants, and even a lazy river, blending slapstick absurdity with genuine brutality. Odenkirk once again nails Hutch’s peculiar combination of weary charm and ruthless efficiency, selling both the physical toll and the thrill of combat.
The supporting cast adds some welcome flavour. Connie Nielsen returns as Becca, finally given more to do than just worry from the sidelines. Christopher Lloyd, reprising his role as Hutch’s trigger-happy father, still gets some of the movie’s biggest laughs. Colin Hanks slips neatly into the mix as Hutch’s slightly smug brother-in-law, while Sharon Stone chews scenery throughout. John Ortiz brings a grounded menace as the crooked mayor trapped between wanting to do good by his family and attempting to beat the mob at their own game. These performances keep the world feeling a little bigger, even when the plot sticks to familiar beats.
But as thrilling as the set pieces are, the movie can’t escape the shadow of its predecessor. The first Nobody worked in large part because it caught us off guard; we didn’t know Hutch’s secret, and the reveal hit like a sucker punch. Here, that card has already been played, and the story doesn’t find a new hook to replace it. Too often, Nobody 2 feels like it’s retracing the same path—familiar narrative devices, familiar structure, familiar escalation—just dressed in brighter colours.
That’s not to say it’s a bad film. As an action-comedy, it still delivers plenty of laughs, groans, and “did-they-just-do-that?” moments. But it feels more like a comfortable retread than a bold continuation. I had fun watching it, but I left thinking the same thing I suspect many will: this sequel didn’t really need to exist.
