The Wasteland Reviewer

Nobody 2 (2025) Written Review

Life is hard for an assassin who is trying to pay off a debt, isn’t it? That is the situation that our protagonist finds himself in with the latest addition to the burgeoning new action franchise, Nobody 2. Derek Kolstad created one of the greatest action franchises ever with John Wick and he delivered another fun, well-shot, well-choreographed action flick back during that pandemic called Nobody. Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul alum Bob Odenkirk starred as the titular “Nobody” who would surprise audiences with this against type action hero. But life is still complicated for Hutch Mansell as he never sees his family because he is so busy trying to pay off a big debt. Hutch makes the choice to take the family to his childhood vacation spot, Plumbersville…but violence and danger seem to follow Hutch there. 

Does director Timo Tjahjanto continue the fun from the first film and deliver another lean and thrilling action flick? The most important element that certainly carries over is the impressive action sequences that balance wide shots and close-ups with minimal editing and plenty of great choreography. The action set pieces are strong with a few that stand out including an early elevator sequence and the riotous and bonkers amusement park climax. Strong editing is leveraged early on with an impactful and poignant montage showing the fracturing family life of the Mansell clan. The pacing is great as Tjahjanto balances the fast-paced and violent action of the film with some key quieter and more emotion heavy moments throughout the film. There are some shaky and awkward moments when it comes to tone though. Generally, Tjahjanto injects dark humor throughout but there are some moments that get too dark and don’t feel like they fit in the context of this story. But there are some fun cheesy moments that harken back to 80s cinema (including a tender moment between Hutch and Becca (his wife). 

Does the story for this sequel deliver? The actual plot is solid as we get a family vacation that unfortunately gets disrupted by the illegal activities of local law enforcement. There are probably too many moving pieces along the way but the simple structure leaves plenty of space for action beats as well as some interesting thematic exploration. There are some key elements that give the film some extra depth. The violent nature that inhabits Hutch puts so many elements of his life at-risk. His marriage is in trouble due to his own neglect and there is some strong emotional resonance there. There are plenty of parallel character beats that are processed in the film as well. We realize that there is more to Becca than we might know but seeing her approach to this violent way of life compared to Hutch is interesting. There is plenty of generational trauma with Hutch being concerned about her own son (which could have been given more time as the film goes on) as well as Hutch’s complicated relationship with his own father (who took Hutch’s present behavior to a whole never level back in the day). There is even an interesting parallel between Hutch’s indebted situation compared to the local sheriff. The big weak link of the writing just might be the main antagonist. This big crime boss is a character that is over-the-top and feels like a cartoon character (which feels so artificial in a film where most of the characters feel so grounded). 

How does this cast fair in this zippy action flick? Bob Odenkirk is just plain excellent. The way he shifts from laidback dad to cold killing machine is smooth and convincing. The tougher exterior that Odenkirk puts on as well is quite impressive and fits in with the film so well. His comedic timing is so sharp and delivers plenty of great comedic moments. Connie Nielsen is a great choice for Odenkirk’s other half as they have some surprising chemistry together. Nielsen is a magnetic presence, and she has a few moments where she is downright intense and alluring in such an unexpected way. Chrisopher Lloyd doesn’t have a lot of heavy lifting here, but he is such a fun addition to the cast. Sharon Stone is the most controversial performance in the film by far. This character is so big because of all the choices that Stone makes. There are times she is intimidating and fun and then there are some where she is so cringy and off putting (and not in a good way to support the film). John Ortiz is a solid character actor who makes for a good addition as the local sheriff. Colin Hanks is so obnoxious, and it makes it easy to hate him and get frustrated by his very presence. RZA is Hutch’s brother who has some cool scenes but never feels necessary. All the teen performers are solid but uninspired. 

Is Nobody 2 a fun and must-see sequel in this new action franchise? Tjahjanto takes the reins and guides this film to creative success. The action set pieces are excellent whether it is in an elevator, on the “Duck Boat”, or the big scale siege of the amusement park. Odenkirk leads the way with a strong physical performance that continues to make him a great action movie star. Kolstad continues his streak of making engrossing and layered action films. This vacation was a fun, bloody, violent, good time. Bring on Nobody 3!