Not just any old schmaltz fest as Tom Hanks is at his US Everyman best

The Herald Scotland

16 hours ago

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TIME was when a Saturday night movie starring Tom Hanks would have involved an expedition to the cinema. Now you can see the double Oscar-winner for free, at home, in a film on general release not that long ago (as long as you don't mind the ads). Old Hollywood would think the business had lost its collective mind.
A Man Called Otto began life as a Swedish novel and film before this US remake by Marc Forster (Finding Neverland, World War Z). Tom Hanks plays a grumpy widower who thinks most of the world are idiots and a large proportion of them live in his street. Without Otto doing his morning 'rounds' and telling people off for poor parking and other crimes, it would be anarchy out there. So far, so Victor Meldrew.
What are the odds, do you reckon, of Otto staying a grouch for long, maybe even doubling down on his crankiness? Perhaps in another movie universe, but on this planet, with this actor, forget it.
Sure enough, a young family moves into the cul-de-sac and chips away at Otto's Easter Island exterior. Before you know it, he's doing good deeds left, right and centre.
Among A-listers, what's left of them, only Hanks could get away with such an obvious schmaltz fest as A Man Called Otto. Tom Cruise would only attempt it if snow shovelling could be turned into a life-or-death stunt. Harrison Ford comes across as authentically grumpy, so that wouldn't be much fun. Clint Eastwood probably came closest in Gran Torino, though that too was a touch spiky for some. But Hanks, the heir to Jimmy Stewart as a paragon of decency? Perfect.
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That said, credit to the Forrest Gump and Philadelphia star for sticking with the Swedish original and going to some very bleak places with the grief-stricken Otto.
Otto, we learn from (too many) flashbacks is another in a long line of everyday American heroes to feature on the Hanks cv, but this one is interesting because he is ordinary to the point of almost being dull. What raises him aobve the norm is love, pure and simple.
Hanks's son Truman does a fine job of playing the young Otto. It is keeping it in the family, but this is far preferable to the startling moment when Hanks appears as his younger self, complete with weird CGI face and unfeasibly dark hair.
Besides staying true to the tone of the Swedish original, Hanks keeps a lid on the schmaltz by giving Otto a convincingly bad temper. Even though the targets are obvious - property developers trying to buy up the neighbourhood, etc - Hanks lets rip in spectacular fashion.
As for the business model behind A Man Called Otto, it more than paid its way, being made for $50 million and grossing more than double that worldwide in cinemas. Nice guys like Hanks never finish last.
Showing again Tuesday at 9pm on 4seven, and available to stream for 30 days for free on 4.