Movie Review: A Man Called Otto

A Man Called Otto has some sexual references. For example:

By the time we made it to the theaters, I had forgotten about 90% of that brief summary and only remembered it was about a grumpy old man, making the movie all the more surprising. This was perhaps the first time in my life I’d walked into a theater without knowing what to expect. The following will contain spoiler alerts, so continue reading with caution. The last thing I will say before providing my review of the movie for those who wish to read no further is that this film is a must watch. It contains Catholic undertones throughout and highlights the radiant nature of Christ’s love present in all things.

Otto’s story gives each and every one of us a reminder of how to heal, hold on to our loved ones, and find perfection in our mistakes. By the end, the bringing together of the community from Otto’s work turns him into the most loveable character of the film. Personally, I saw myself connecting deeply with following Otto’s story as he found home not as a physical building, but in his friends. “A Man Called Otto” is a thoughtful and heartwarming story that will make you laugh, cry, and rethink about what it means to live.

Image courtesy of Cinema 1 Plus

My advice for these days: Go home; respond to only what is necessary; take a long, hot bath (whenever possible, pick a home with a tub, a highly undervalued retreat); and then visit Tom Hanks and company in his 2022 dramedy, A Man Called Otto.

There’s no substance use in A Man Called Otto.

As he dangled from the ceiling, Otto’s life flashed before his eyes. He recalls earlier memories of the time he met his wife Sonya by chance after she dropped a book at a train station. A younger Otto, who couldn’t afford to pay for his train ticket, was given money by Sonya to pay the conductor. She had given him one quarter too many; a quarter he kept all his life. As Otto’s flashback ends, the rope snaps and he falls to the floor, unsuccessful in his attempt to kill himself. He is next seen sitting in a cemetery making conversation to his wife’s grave, lamenting his wish to be with her.

A series of flashbacks to Otto’s younger days with Sonya deeply embeds the viewer into the wounds that caused him to be so bitter. Sonya was his world, and her death crippled his spirit in the same way the bus accident crippled her legs. It’s hard not to feel the massive hole in Otto’s heart as the film advances. He longs for the love of his wife and fails to see that love as universal in the world around him. The genius of this movie is its ability to highlight the aching deep within the soul that causes us to lash out in sin. Behind every deformed heart is a series of wounds. Every heart longs to love and be loved but tragically collapses in on itself when blinded to the source of love itself. All you can love is yourself when you wall yourself off to the outside, which as Otto’s character demonstrates, really is no love at all.

Otto is an older man, played masterfully by Tom Hanks. He was pushed out of a job he enjoyed as a mechanical engineer. When Otto shows up for work one morning, the entire staff is gathered with a cake to wish him well. His co-workers couldn’t even wait until the end of the day to celebrate his departure.

Recently I had the opportunity to watch A Man Called Otto, a heartwarming comedy-drama starring Tom Hanks as Otto, a grumpy and bitter retiree who routinely insults his neighbors and enforces the traffic rules of his condominium neighborhood until he is befriended by an immigrant family that moves in next door. Based on the Swedish film A Man Called Ove, this film provides an excellent portrayal of a protagonist who exhibits signs of autism in terms of his specialized interests, exacting mannerisms, and social difficulties. Considering this, I felt that A Man Called Otto would be a noteworthy topic for a film review.

Film Review: A Man Called Otto…

A warning: A Man Called Otto should not be watched with young children, and viewing it with teens requires pre- and post- discussion. Because Otto longs to be united once again with Sonya, he attempts suicide four times. Each time, however, even when close to accomplishing his goal, an event that holds surprise and (as incredible as it seems) humor diverts his success.

A Man Called Otto: An accurate reflection of life without purpose

The film opens by introducing Otto Anderson (Tom Hanks), a senior citizen who has recently retired from his long-term career at a local steel company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He displays a grumpy and hostile attitude toward everyone he encounters, including his coworkers despite their attempts to give him a cheerful going-away party, which he dismisses as pointless. In addition, he exhibits a very literal mindset toward rules, regulations, and prices; this brings him into conflict with the staff at a local hardware store when he seeks to buy a certain length of rope but is charged a higher price for the whole rope. Infuriated, he demands to speak to the store manager, arguing that he should only have to pay for the length of rope that he requested, but when the manager fails to comply with Otto’s request, he insults the staff members, calling them “idiots” and “nitwits” before leaving the store.

Movie Review: A Man Called Otto is Wholesome, but Little Else

Otto’s character traits are highly emblematic of autism since autistic people tend to have very literal thought patterns toward everything, which is exemplified by Otto’s argument with the staff at the hardware store over his rope purchase. This also fits in with the tendency among autistic individuals to follow very strict routines since they show a strong preference for a structured and orderly environment, which Otto demonstrates through his petty enforcement of neighborhood policies. Furthermore, his social ineptitude is reflective of the challenges that many autistic individuals have with social interaction since they often struggle with observing proper social etiquette and grasping common social cues. In Otto’s case, this is taken to an extreme level through his hostile and belligerent attitude toward everyone.

Film Review: A Man Called Otto

The 2022 American comedy-drama film A Man Called Otto, is about a bitter elderly man (played by actor Tom Hanks) who reluctantly gets involved in his neighbors’ lives. It is a remake of the Swedish movie A Man Called Ove from 2015, which was based on Fredrik Backman’s novel from 2012.