FILM REVIEW: NOBODY 2 (15) ESP RATING: 3.5/5

This fits the expected sequel formula – even though there’s still plenty of fun to be had.

Just like with many actioners, from John Wick to The Equalizer, the second film is a level below the original – mainly because the ‘awe’ factor is missing. The genie is out the bottle so to speak.

That’s pretty much what takes place here. The genuine shock factor of Bob Odenkirk – best known for his role in Breaking Bad spin-off Better Call Saul – turning from seemingly spineless family man to kick-ass former government assassin took us all by surprise – and created a lot of fans in the process.

Fast forward four years and we have the inevitable follow up, which conjures up a wacky curveball premise centred around a water park. Yes, that’s right. It at least deserves ‘props’ for not sticking to stereotypes.

After burning the Russian cash stash after his gun-toting rampage at the end of the last film, Hutch Mansell is paying off his debt – via Colin Salmon’s (yep from Eastenders) former government handler ‘The Barber’ – by taking out deadly assignments.

But when his wife Becca (Connie Nielsen) becomes disgruntled with Hutch always going AWOL from his family life, he promises to take some time off from his ‘Nobody’ assassin duties, and books a holiday to a family resort for the couple and their two kids.

In fact it’s a tacky complex from his childhood called ‘Plummerville’ that houses an amusement and water park – which makes the perfect setting for its highly entertaining finale.

That’s because Hutch gets rubbed up the wrong way by the corrupt locals – including John Ortiz’s corrupt theme park operator and Colin Hanks’ shady sheriff – and gets embroiled in a illegal bootlegging trade, masterminded by Sharon Stone’s vicious ‘hamming it up’ ringleader Lendina.

And when Hutch – like he did with the Russians in the original – burns all her cash, this leads to a massive confrontation between Lendina and her goons, versus Hutch and his adopted younger brother (RZA) and Dad (Christopher Lloyd), among fair rides and water slides. Which leads to some ingeniously amusing comedy kills. There’s also a funny boat sequence mid-way through the movie as well that deserves a notable mention.

But bar the inventive setting, there’s nothing really new to see in its bright and breezy ninety minutes runtime, just a continuation of this series not taking itself too seriously.

It’s pretty much more of the same – which definitely isn’t a bad thing – as Odenkirk and co do exactly what it says on the tin.

ESP Rating: 3.5/5

Gavin Miller

ODEON LUXE PETERBOROUGH & SHOWCASE CINEMA DE LUX PETERBOROUGH, OUT NOW

CAST: BOB ODENKIRK, CONNIE NIELSEN, JOHN ORTIZ, COLIN HANKS, RZA, CHRISTOPHER LLOYD, COLIN SALMON, GAGE MUNROE, PAISLEY CADORATH & SHARON STONE

RUNNING TIME: 1 HR 29 MINS

DIRECTOR: TIMO TJAHJANTO

FILM REVIEW VENUE: ODEON LUXE PETERBOROUGH

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