The original Nobody took an unlikely action star in Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul) and made a badass flick that has long lingered since its release in 2021. While the first film’s director does not make a comeback, the John Wick writer Derek Kolstad does return for this action-packed delight of a sequel where chaos reigns and vacation is just a word. 

 

Timo Tjahjanto is not a filmmaker I’m familiar with, but with this along with the upcoming The Beekeeper 2 and the reimagining of Train to Busan, he’s a director to keep a watchful eye on. While I do strongly think that the first’s action stands out a bit more prominently and the action in the original is undercut with the creation of our characters. This sequel decides that we don’t need further information about these characters' lives, apart from a few flashbacks of Hutch, his brother and his dad enjoying what was supposed to be a break from his day to day missions. 

 

This film nonetheless is an absolute blast from beginning to end, with the epic waterpark scenario leaving quite an explosive climax to the film. Plus we get to see Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future) kick some serious ass at 86 years old. What’s great about this film is it doesn’t have to have a huge plot to back up the action, just that Hutch went on a trip from his past without knowing the full details of the dangers that lie within. The entire family returns, apart from the brother-in-law and father-in-law, but since this all takes place away from the events of the first, it’s excusable they wouldn’t be present here. 

 

Nobody tackled the Russians, this film tackles a villainous woman played by a scene chewing Sharon Stone (Basic Instinct), who isn't tied to a single organization and is only in for herself and is willing to kill whatever gets in her way of conducting business smoothly. Colin Hanks (Orange County) plays a corrupt and egotistical sheriff who has it out for Hutch and his family upon first interaction. One of the most prominent flaws of Nobody 2 comes in the fact they juggle too many villains in such a short time span, not giving one single maniacal force in town enough time to really release the full extent of their evil properly on the audience. The film at its core is bad guys being bad guys and protecting their territory - it's a scenario we’ve seen aplenty, but it’s just so much fun when executed well. 

 

Bob Odenkirk is absolutely terrific in his return and truly transforms into this mysterious “Nobody” wanting to just have a break from his everyday life and make memories with his family. Odenkirk appears to be more comfortable and fluent with the action scenes now and it shows as his fights come off with ease, yet precision like an assassin that’s been doing it for decades.  The entire family returns, apart from the brother-in-law and father-in-law, but since this all takes place away from the events of the first, it’s excusable they wouldn’t be present here. Every member of the family has a memorable moment in the film, but RZA’s Harry might have the best kill in the entire film (hands down!). 

 

Set your expectations properly for a well done epilogue and continuation of where the original feature left off, but don’t expect the story to expand too much or for them to try to make this into a franchise beyond this outing. Nobody 2 is for the fans that came out and adored the original, the fans that want to see a little more fight out of this so-called “Nobody” and we get it by the duck boat load. It’s a high budget B-movie, fueled with stunning action and an action-centric finale that will satisfy anyone seeking a badass way to end their summer vacation.