Ein Mann namens Otto

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Nominated twice at the Oscars®, awarded Best Film Comedy and one of the most successful films in its country: We’re not talking about A MAN CALLED OTTO, but the Swedish original EN MAN SOM HETER OVE, which thrilled international audiences in 2015 based on the novel of the same name. According to IMDb, Hannes Holm’s interpretation was also the most successful international release in the USA in the same year. So the legitimate question now is: Why are we getting a US remake of this wonderful film? Quite simply: because it can be done and it can make a lot of money a second time. Even if this is merely a speculative assumption, co-producer Nicklas Wikström Nicastro, who was also involved in the Swedish version, has no alternative explanation to offer and press information even refers directly to Holm’s success in this context.

This is what it is about

Otto Anderson lives alone in his cottage in a small closed-off street with only a few neighbours. For years he has followed the same everyday routines, which include a keen eye for law and order. Known as a curmudgeon, he is shunned by other people. Basically, there is nothing left for him that makes his life worth living. After the death of his beloved wife, he merely longs to return to her side. However, when he wants to put an end to himself, this fails and it is not only the poor quality of today’s products that drives him up the wall, but also his new neighbours who cannot even manage to park a car with a trailer properly. After he has helped them once out of frustration, he is suddenly asked for help again and again and receives small conciliatory thank-yous. Otto unintentionally gets a new task in life. But can this appease his longing for Sonya, the lady of his heart?

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Review

What can you say about a film that already exists in exactly the same form? The plot is basically a 1:1 copy and since EN MAN SOM HETER OVE was really wonderfully heartfelt, mean-spirited and sarcastic, this is of course true now too. The differences are so marginal that you really have to look for them, and are essentially limited to the name of the protagonist and things like car brands. Nevertheless, with 127 minutes of running time, we now get 11 minutes more of film, but they are hardly noticeable. Regardless of the earlier film version, it should be mentioned that the story shows us in a very humorous, affectionate and sunny way how complicated life can be and that superficial perceptions often do not correspond to what is really inside a person. Thus the plot is based on a very simple, but no less important moral. Towards the end, the remake also manages to bring tears of joy to the eyes.

However, it is interesting to take a look at the cast of multiple Oscar® winner Tom Hanks, who ironically has a total of three nominations at the Golden Raspberry (the “anti-Oscar®”) this year (albeit for the films ELVIS and PINOCCHIO). Basically, the audience favourite suits the mantle of the old bitter man who terrorises the local people as a neighbourhood bully. But it becomes clear that Hank’s character appears much more bitter and pitiful, which slightly changes the basic character of A MAN CALLED OTTO compared to the original and does not lead the audience’s sympathies into such a controversial contradiction. Coupled with his appearance (exemplarily dressed, short-cropped hair), the impression is even created that Forrest Gump has found his way back to the screens and now finally wants to force a conclusion after the loss of Jenny.

We need more big carts

Apart from, of course, slightly better colour grading, more modern camerawork and, above all, a revised song selection that is considerably different but nevertheless also aptly chosen, there is only one thing that is really worth mentioning: the Americanised distortion of a reasonable picture of life. For example, Tom Hanks’ character acquires a new car in the course of the plot, which is far from reasonable. The most problematic thing about it, however, is that the generous donation of the car to a young family is accompanied by the words: “This is living”, thus developing a frightening image on it of what values should really count.

Conclusion

Did you like EN MAN SOM HETER OVE? Then only watch A MAN CALLED OTTO if you feel like a rewatch. You don’t know the first film? Then watch this one! The remake of the successful Swedish film has no more and no less to offer than the original, showing joy and passion, love and warmth and a charming, laconic humour. Tom Hanks fits wonderfully as the protagonist, even if his manner radiates a bit more bitterness and despair and therefore lacks a bit of the scowling and mean nature – because let’s be honest: How could Hanks ever hurt a fly? However, this leaves the unpleasant stigma that producer Nicklas Wikström Nicastro simply wants to milk the cow even more and tries to squeeze every last cent at the box office out of the international audience. Absolutely unnecessary.

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