Written by Sam Clark
Certificate: 15
Running time: 89 minutes
Director: Timo Tjahjanto
My initial reaction to the trailer for ''Nobody 2'' can best be summed up as surprisingly underwhelming, given the fact that the first was not only explosively entertaining, but how no one expected it to be as good as it was. Logically, one would also expect a sequel to follow relatively quickly behind, but it has been four years, and I would be lying to say that I remembered a great deal from before. If that sentiment was not disappointing enough, ''Nobody 2'' also suffers quite heavily from ''sequel syndrome'': when you run out of ideas, send everyone on holiday! So not only has the wait been longer than it should have been, there is a whiff of desperation and lack of originality, but in reality, we don't go into these films for intricate plot now do we...
Excitement and anticipation was far higher from me this time since Illya Naishuller is replaced by Timo Tjahjanto, who I believe to be the best emerging action director since Gareth Evans first burst onto the scene with ''The Raid''. His previous work includes the Netflix martial arts films ''The Night Comes for Us'' and ''The Shadow Strays'', two of the nastiest pieces of action cinema I have ever come across but also some of the best fights and choreography you will ever see. Derek Kolstad (who wrote the ''John Wick'' series and the first ''Nobody'') returns here alongside newcomer Aaron Rabin. Since it has been a hot minute since the first film, allow me to catch you up quickly.
Bob Odenkirk starred as ''Hutch Mansell'', a normal, average every day citizen confined to a repetitive 9-5 job. He harbours a dangerous and secret past as a retired hitman who is trying to move on with his life and from his past. He instead tries to become a dedicated, family man to his wife (Connie Nielsen) and their children. One day, he gets into an altercation with thugs on a bus and becomes a target to a local mob, forcing him return to the life he is so desperately trying to leave. Fast forward to ''Nobody 2'', he is now in debt to a criminal organisation because of past events, namely burning a giant pile of cash he was not supposed to at the end of the last film. In order to pay off what he owes, he is forced back into assignments, which only leaves him more isolated from his family.
In typical sequel fashion, it's road trip time. ''Hutch'' arranges for a family getaway to ''Plummerville'', a Florida-esque setting equipped with a waterpark where he spent his childhood. Inevitably, trouble always seems to find ''Hutch'' as his son gets into a fight at an arcade, which results in him losing his temper and fighting the employees. This draws the attention of of the park's owner and operator John Ortiz and the local corrupt sheriff Colin Hanks. It turns out that ''Plummerville'' is in fact a drug and money smuggling operation run by the big bad ''Lendina'' (Sharon Stone), and ''Hutch'' has no choice but to jump into action once again - but all he wants is time with his loved ones.
Founded by stuntmen David Leitch and Chad Stahelski, 87North have now been around long enough for them to have made a name for themselves in the action world and for people to know what they are going to get, their most famous and notable work being the ''John Wick'' franchise, ''Atomic Blonde'', ''Bullet Train'' and more. ''Nobody 2'' does exactly what it says on the tin and reminds us why they are the best currently working in stunts: fantastic choreography and endless amount of ridiculous gun play. But since they have already given us such spectacular offerings, I have to say that ''Nobody 2'' does sit somewhere near the bottom for me, it is weaker and more forgettable than I hoped.
The primary issue with doing a sequel to a film no one expected to enjoy as much as they did, is that it was very much a one time thing and you will never be able to live up to it again. But, with that logic, the same can be said for most sequels in existence anyway. The central gag with ''Nobody'' was the idea of a completely innocent civilian turning out to be to be a professional, psychotic killer, underestimated by everyone who crossed paths with him. Casting Bob Odenkirk in this (who comes from comedy and not action) was genius entirely the point, and he has managed to knock it out of the park on both occasions (he also suffered a near fatal heart attack a few years ago, so a massive hats off to him for doing this). This time around however, we are used to the idea and concept and you can only do so much as a film. ''Nobody 2'' unsurprisingly ends up paling in comparison doesn't seem to do anything notable. The worst that can happen is that you ruin what came before, but that is somewhat prevented here.
As a result, part of me therefore wonders whether the film should have just been a one time thing, but it is completely understandable to get carried away when your films turns out popular and successful with the masses. Given how blown away I have been with Timo Tjahjanto's previous work (and the fact that I have compared him to Gareth Evans - who I believe to be the greatest action director of all time - speaks volumes) , I was surprised at how little of his style I saw here, this is purely 87North through and through. Hand on heart, I think he directs action better than they do. I would have liked to see his vision break through the mold more, as I am not as impressed by 87North's work as I am with his. His hand has perhaps been slightly forced here, but I already suspected that was going to be the case, I know he'll do more on his own in the future. Weaker as a whole, but chaotic and impressive action as per usual.
In cinemas now
