'Nobody 2' Review: Bob Odenkirk Breaks Bad Again — But Real Good

HOLLYWOOD, CA — Surprise! Surprise! 2021 was a breakout year for Bob Odenkirk. The “Better Call Saul” actor, best known for his razor-sharp timing and layered dramatic nuance, delivered a career-defining performance in the action-thriller sleeper hit “Nobody” — a film that reminded us that even the most unassuming character — yes, even a “nobody” — can be a force to be reckoned with.

His unexpected depth and ferocity catapulted him from courtroom cool in the beloved series to the bone-snapping grit of “Nobody” — a jarring, thrilling pivot that launched his unlikely action-hero renaissance.

The film, along with Odenkirk's illustrious turn, also carved out a gritty niche between “John Wick” and “Falling Down,” earning cult status and paving the way for a sequel: Timo Tjahjanto’s “Nobody 2,” which arrives with more of the same bone-crunching action, dry humor, gripping performances and emotional storytelling that made the original a success.

Enter Hutch Mansell (Odenkirk), a seemingly ordinary suburban dad with a hidden past as a government assassin. His quiet life unravels — yet again — this time, during a family vacation to the fictional European town of Plummerville. So much for peace, quiet, and staying off the grid. Plummerville begins as “Summerville” — and ends in Gun-merville, where chaos reigns.

Shells scatter. Glass splinters. Boats flip. Bullets fly. Tourists dive for cover. The tumult is deafening. Then, without warning, Hutch unleashes his inner storm and starts wrecking.

But all of this commotion? Child's play compared to what's looming ahead. The real mayhem begins when Hutch collides with Sheriff Abel (Stephen Root) and Lendina (Sharon Stone), whose bootlegging empire runs Plummerville with fear and flair. Their showdown is a brutal brawl with no holds barred, pulling Hutch back into high-octane action.

With verve and charisma, the cast ignites the chaos, adding a punch that makes it unforgettable. Odenkirk embodies Hutch Mansell with enigmatic swagger, pulsing between calm and ferocious — always teetering on the edge of no return. Connie Nielsen, as Hutch’s wife, Becca, delivers a nuanced performance, treading the fine line between love and frustration. She grounds the madness with quiet strength and resolve, countering Hutch’s unraveling.

Root imbues Sheriff Abel with unsettling bravado. Neither ally nor adversary, the lawman drifts through a haze of mystery, his buried truths knotted in a simmering tension with Lendina.

Last but not least, Stone gives femme fatale Lendina equal parts seductiveness and ruthlessness, matching Hutch’s enigma — one moment a bootlegging queenpin, the next a ghost from his past. Every glance flickers with venomous charm, summoning your “Basic Instinct” to surrender. Undeniably, Stone makes danger irresistible.

Tjahjanto’s direction supercharges “Nobody 2” with pure adrenaline, favoring raw grit over polished style. The fight scenes are brutal yet precise, each brawl a crunchy display of chaos. Beneath the carnage, Hutch’s violence still carries personal stakes — never empty, always steeped in emotion.

So, is the magic back? Not exactly. But the mayhem? Oh, it's dialed to eleven. “Nobody 2” trades surprise for escalation — delivering absurdity, emotional fallout and sheer excitement in spades. While it may lack the fresh jolt of the original, the sequel's bold shift in tone, standout performances and Tjahjanto’s visceral storytelling still deliver a wildly entertaining ride. Think “National Lampoon’s Vacation” meets “John Wick,” with a splash of “The Night Comes for Us” thrown in for savage flair.

“Nobody 2” doesn’t reinvent the wheel — Hutch Mansell doesn’t need to. He’s the wrecking ball tearing through Summerville-turned-Gun-Merville, where chaos reigns and mercy is merciless.