Nobody, a 2021 movie, is one of the few modern action movies that really shows how fun it is to watch a mild-mannered everyman snap into a whirlwind of revenge. Bob Odenkirk’s Hutch Mansell was a frumpy paper-pusher with a secret past as a government assassin. He turned heads by becoming a balletic killer, killing Russian mobsters with the precision of a man who would rather be folding laundry. It was a surprise hit that combined brutal dance moves with dark humor. It got an 84% on Rotten Tomatoes and showed that Odenkirk, who will always be Saul Goodman in our hearts, could headline a bloody romp.
Four years later, on August 15, 2025, Universal Pictures released Nobody 2, which was directed by Indonesian action master Timo Tjahjanto (The Night Comes for Us). Hutch is still working hard at his shady jobs to pay off a $30 million debt to the underworld. This is putting a strain on his marriage to Becca (Connie Nielsen) and leaving his kids (Gage Munroe and newcomer Paisley Cadorath) in the lurch. The family goes to Plummerville, a tacky tourist trap, for a vacation at Wild Bill’s Majestic Midway and Waterpark because they need to feel normal again. But anyone who likes action movies knows that “vacation” really means “more trouble.” When Hutch runs into a crooked theme park mogul (Colin Hanks), a crooked sheriff (John Ortiz), and a ruthless crime boss (Sharon Stone in a deliciously venomous turn), the Mansells’ R&R turns into a Home Alone-meets-Straw Dogs siege of improvised traps, amphibious vehicle fights, and off-screen symphonies of screams.
Nobody 2 is 89 minutes long and hits like a well-timed punch: lean, mean, and unapologetically fun. Tjahjanto adds more blood and absurdity to David Leitch’s original. There are more slapstick scenes (like duck boats with concession-stand shrapnel) and a soundtrack that turns everything from Johnny Cash covers to ’90s alt-rock into weapons. It’s not a deep movie; it’s just a fun movie for dads who have ever dreamed of turning a Ferris wheel into a death trap. “It’s like National Lampoon’s Vacation if Clark Griswold were Steven Seagal,” said one reviewer.
The Everyman Hero Who Never Lets You Down
Odenkirk is still the movie’s secret sauce, giving Hutch a sad charm that makes every punch hit with emotional weight. He’s not the stoic avenger of John Wick; he’s the dad who doesn’t want to kill anyone but does it anyway, grumbling about missing his kid’s soccer game. His comedic roots show through in scenes like when he sets up a funhouse mirror maze for maximum chaos or jokes around with his foul-mouthed father-in-law (Christopher Lloyd, who steals scenes as a grumpy old man with no filter). This time, Nielsen has more to do as Becca, going from damsel in distress to do-it-yourself warrior. Her off-screen beatdown of attackers is a highlight that gets cheers.
The supporting cast makes the silly idea better: Hanks plays a smarmy park owner who is all smiles until the lawsuits start piling up, and Ortiz’s sheriff is oily and threatening. But Stone is the wild card: a bloodthirsty matriarch whose campy villainy (like Cruella de Vil with a switchblade) splits audiences. Some people call her a “deliciously diabolical” standout, while others say she is miscast and not scary, which lowers the stakes. RZA makes a brief appearance as Hutch’s handler, giving the movie some street cred and some philosophical zingers in the middle of the fights.
Action That Hurts, Bleeds, and Is Too Familiar
The real draw of Tjahjanto’s work is its inventive, visceral, and funny action. In the middle of the movie, a flooded tour boat turns everyday things like life vests, oars, and even a cooler of sodas into deadly improv tools. This is as creative as the original’s famous bus massacre. The end, a theme-park takedown set to a thrash-metal “Ring of Fire,” is wonderfully over-the-top, with family members helping out like they were in a crazy game of capture the flag. It moves quickly enough that you can forgive a few slow parts. It lasts less than 90 minutes and doesn’t waste a single frame.
But Nobody 2 falls short here: it’s a cover of the first movie, with the “mild guy unleashes hell” riff playing again without much change. What a surprise it was for Odenkirk to go from comedy to violence? Gone. The bad guys? Compared to the original’s believable threats, these are cartoonishly bad. Hutch’s family dynamic adds heart; it’s almost a twisted family comedy. However, the callbacks feel forced, and the script (by Derek Kolstad and Aaron Rabin) focuses on set pieces instead of depth. RogerEbert.com says, “the wow factor is gone, and nothing has taken its place.” Fans on X say the same thing: “It’s basically the same movie as the first one.” Some people say it’s “weak, lazy, and boring,” while others say it’s “enjoyable enough” (6/10).
The reviews are mixed, but they lean toward the positive: Rotten Tomatoes gives it an 83% (“a diverting sequel that measures up admirably”), IMDb gives it a 6.3/10, and Metacritic gives it a 65. IGN says it’s “consistently fun,” even though it doesn’t beat the original, and The Critical Drinker calls it “89 minutes of simple, violent, undemanding fun.” People who don’t like it, like ScreenTime, say it’s a “watchable disappointment” that’s “bloody but boring.”
A Sequel That Lives Up to Its Name—But Don’t Expect a Revolution
Nobody 2 isn’t coming up with a new idea; they’re just adding more laughs, blood, and Bob Odenkirk doing what he does best: making the ridiculous seem real. This is a breath of fresh air (if it has blood on it) in a summer full of superheroes and space operas. It’s a B-movie blast for husbands, dads, and anyone who wants some simple thrills. It’s not the perfect follow-up Nobody deserved, but as Hutch might complain while taping a goon to a rollercoaster, it will do the job. Get the popcorn, skip the therapy bill, and have fun. B (7 out of 10).