A Man Called Otto - Dark Humour, but Just Misses the Mark

About a year ago I read the book A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman and thought the book was entertaining. So when I heard that they were making a film adaptation with Tom Hanks, one of my favorite actors I had to go see the movie.

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The Story

We follow Otto, a man who has just started his retirement but who has also just lost his wife Sonya. He retreats in his suburban home and is... well perpetually grumpy at everyone around him. Life seems to have gotten him down. So much even that Otto is thinking about killing himself as he no longer sees the use in life without his wife and work. However, his sad plans are interrupted by the arrival of his new neighbour Marisol and her husband Tommy and their two daughters.

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Marisol is very pregnant and with two daughters and a husband who has two left hands, she could really use some friendly neighbourly help. Otto seems a perfect candidate, he has time as he is retired and he is very handy. Only downside? Otto is not in the least interested in helping his neighbour! He tries to kill himself again, but is once more interrupted by Marisol who needs his help. This time, it is driving lessons which she really needs.

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Otto helps her, not because he wants to but because he is simply a decent human being. He helps Marisol with her driving lessons and her daughters. While this is happening we see flashbacks to his life as a young man meeting Sonya and wanting to start a family with her. While he tries to come to terms with her death the neighbourhood is turned upside down because a real estate company wants to buy up the houses and ruin the neighbourhood. It is a cause that his late wife Sonya had taken up and finally Otto feels compelled to do something about it as well.

One of Otto's flashbacks when he and his wife met

This is where the movie tilts and Otto is a changed man, he finds his passion again and develops a warm relationship with his neighbours, or will life have other plans....?

My Review

I gave the book 3 stars because I liked the idea of the story, a man disappointed by life who manages to turn things around and find joy again. However, the book lacked some real character building of Otto/Ove. He just seems a sour and grumpy man and he lacks a real story. This is done a bit better in the movie, where the flashbacks give a bit more character to Otto. However, though the movie contains some good dark humour, it never really lifts off and I would also give the movie 3 out of 5 stars, just like the book.

Have you seen this movie? What did you think?

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