Normal Movie Review

​Used in the review of this movie will not be the word normal. Why? Because this is anything but that. Bob Odenkirk knows his audience well. That being the case, he and the writer of Nobody 1 & 2 wrote this screenplay knowing you’d enjoy what they came up with.

The plot of “Normal” is that Bob Odenkirk plays Ulysses Richardson, an acting sheriff in a small Midwestern town who needs a new sheriff after the death of their last one, Gunderson. He finds himself in one hell of a pickle. Due to a series of events, he attempts to stop a bank robbery, and in doing so, he is swallowed up into a scheme that involves almost the entire town. What it leads to is unbelievable. I’m not sure how to tell you what plays out, to be honest. But I’ll be clear about this, go out and watch this at the movies! Enjoying it with others was a pleasure. Someone in my theater shouted, “He’s still alive??” and, outside of some of the carnage, which was psychotic, I remember that moment most.

Director Ben Wheatley was perfect for this film. He directed “Free Fire,” a movie akin to the action-packed films we get from Odenkirk, who makes an impression here. Since he does play a character similar to others you’ve seen him play, such as Hutch in “Nobody” and Jimmy McGill in “Better Call Saul,” you’ll appreciate this work. Yeah, this movie does call for his standard routine, but I’m sure we’d all like to see him stretch his acting chops soon. Back to the film. This is very dark. There are several look-away moments.

Saying that, there is a lot of bloodshed and heinous executions, is being kind. At one point, this action film becomes more like a “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” type horror film. Regardless, you’re shocked when a chuckle comes from your throat watching it all play out.

Ulysses figures out that everyone in the seemingly sweet, low-key town is turning on him during a bank robbery. He must figure out how to make it out alive. He has only a few people on his side, including the bank robbers, Lori and Keith. They’re not in on whatever’s going on in Normal. They all get in the bank vault, and what they see could very well have something to do with what’s going on. What they find are gold bars, mountains of cash and enough weapons and military equipment to supply a small army. There’s a reason it’s all there… and that reason isn’t normal. (Hey! I fit the word in!!) Ulysses would rather leave than meet the people who will be coming back for this stash. But that’s not him. Learning that bank guards were connected to the notorious Japanese organized crime syndicate, the Yakuza, he decides he’s going to fight before the Yakuza arrive.

There’s a moose seen occasionally by certain people that I wish they had hit upon a bit more, but overall, it’s a good watch in the theater. The highly exaggerated, hand-held camera work was spot on, making a routine, typical fight scene feel strangely unusual in comparison. Your eyes will have a hard time keeping up.

There’s an unusually large amount of violence in the film. There’s a staggering amount of action and humor that you’ll have a lot of fun with this movie. Hearing the audience members and finding yourself laughing at certain scenes will worry you, but don’t worry. It’s normal to simply enjoy a good film.