Nobody 2: A Wonderful Collage of Violence and Humor

Hutch returns in the hotly anticipated sequel to 2021’s Nobody, a film which stands as a perfect example of stunt casting done well (and one that is shockingly good on its own merit). The original film was a delightfully amusing film held back slightly by pacing and derivative action set pieces. However, this time around, 87Eleven Entertainment and star Bob Odenkirk specifically sought out a director known not only for their action but for their storytelling capabilities, landing on one of the best action filmmakers working today in Indonesia’s Timo Tjahjanto. Tjahjanto has been killing it overseas with films such as 2018’s The Night Comes for Us and 2024’s The Shadow Strays, exhibiting a particular brand of hyper-violent action with great leads. One of his other works, 2022’s The Big Four, acted as a pseudo audition for what audiences will find with Nobody 2, a vacation flick chalk full of gags and excessively violent action sequences. Although momentarily compromised, the director’s brand of action and humour bleeds through every frame of this sequel, pushing the limit on what audiences may expect to find in a modern studio action film. 

Nobody 2 brings audiences back to the Mansell family as Hutch Mansell (Odenkirk) finds himself at a loss, trying to pay off his debt accumulated since the first film; he now has to return to the life he previously set aside. Job after job, day after day, Hutch grows distant from his family, losing touch with the unit he once fought so hard to attain. After one job too many, Hutch decides on a family vacation, returning to Plummerville, a lost piece of Americana beloved to him as a child and the one place of vacation amidst a life of travel and chaos. Once the Mansells pick up their patriarch, David (Lloyd), they head on their way to Plummerville, only to find upon entry that the little utopia is not all Hutch remembers it to be. After letting his past get a hold of him once more, Hutch is now left to protect those near and to salvage the memory of his youth, threatened by the vicious Lendina (Sharon Stone). 

Following up on the complaints of the original film’s poor pacing and infrequent action, Nobody 2 is nearly 89 minutes straight of gags and action, never letting up and giving audiences exactly what they want out of an 87Eleven action picture. This choice would create a twofold issue for the film. On the one hand, its greatest strength is its breezy yet breakneck pace, featuring a barrage of action and humour carried throughout its short runtime. However, as a result, it doesn’t fixate on potentially engaging narrative throughlines and instead has throwaway lines leading audiences by telling them how they should feel. Which, although irritating, does not take away too much from the absolute blast of carnage this film unloads.

As mentioned, Tjahjanto brings his unique brand of action to the franchise, with more attention placed on the hand-to-hand combat and blood through the use of squibs and practical gore. Similar to the first film, the cast once again delivers, with Odenkirk again proving to be one of the more reliable actors working today.  His comedic timing and deadpan brilliance, fused with the gritty yet believable action, are always entertaining. The ensemble, meanwhile, gets a little more to do here as well, with the film’s villains being delightfully cheesy. Stone, Colin Hanks, and John Ortiz are a very welcome collection of actors to fill in the seedy Plummerville, complemented well by Neilson, Lloyd, and RZA, as Becca, David, and Harry Mansell.

Although light on narrative push and focus, Nobody 2 concocts a violent medley, one which will satisfy most action fans looking for a great time in theatres. Those worried that director Timo Tjahjanto would have to tone things down will be pleased to hear that he doesn’t… really. Despite a few moments that are cut around a bit more than expected, and others that tone down the violence (as expected), the film serves as a great North American debut for a director of his calibre; the concerns that have followed most directors coming over to Hollywood have certainly not followed him through to this film.

As Hutch states, he’s here to make memories, and that’s exactly what audiences will get out of Nobody 2. It is a wonderful collage of violence and humor that they should make some memories of their own with by checking it out as soon as possible.

still courtesy of Universal Pictures

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Brad Simon

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