Film Review: Normal
Bob Odenkirk cements his unlikely action star credentials in Ben Wheatley's violent comedy thriller
Bob Odenkirk’s post Better Call Saul (2015–22) career as an unlikely action movie star rises to even more splendid heights in Normal. Screenwriter Derek Kolstad, who also penned various John Wick films and the Nobody films (the latter also starring Odenkirk), co-wrote this with his lead. Under Ben Wheatley’s smart direction, the resultant film is a sublime gem of comedic but gruesome action with a pinch of pathos.
The plot concerns interim Sheriff Ulysses (Odenkirk). He arrives in the Minnesota town of “Normal” to fill in until a new sheriff can be elected, since the last one died in somewhat bizarre circumstances. Ulysses’s wry narration informs viewers that he plans to do his job with a light touch, not upsetting the locals or their small-town foibles. At first, this seems to go well. He ingratiates himself with residents and fellow officers alike, and the mayor (Henry Winkler) offers him a permanent job.
However, there’s some obviously suspicious foreshadowing. For example, how did the town get the millions required for the new town hall? What’s locked up in the local hardware shop? Are the guns displayed on the walls of a local restaurant really loaded, or is the owner joking? Why does such a small local police station have such a well-stocked armoury? Initially, Ulysses is busy coming to terms with some genre-appropriate tragic backstory, so he doesn’t think about any of this too deeply. But he certainly starts thinking once complications arising from a bank robbery propel the film into action thriller territory, and a connection to Japanese organised crime.
It wouldn’t be sporting to detail the unusual twists and turns in what follows. However, it doesn’t really spoil anything to say this draws inspiration from the likes of Hot Fuzz (2007) and Wheatley’s earlier action flick, Free Fire (2016). It’s sharp, funny, well-directed, and, at a tight 91 minutes, doesn’t outstay its welcome. There are also some colourful supporting characters, played by a fine cast including Lena Headey, Reena Jolly, Ryan Allen, Billy MacLellan, Brendan Fletcher, Peter Shinkoda, and Jess McLeod. The violence is suitably gruesome at times, but this is often undercut with dark comedy (an amusing moment involving a severed ear, for instance). The set pieces are impressively rendered, and a good reminder of Wheatley’s action credentials.
Wheatley is a much more varied director than is often acknowledged. In addition to action thrillers, his colourful filmography covers everything from trippy horror gems such as Kill List (2011), A Field in England (2013) and In the Earth (2021) to black comedies like Sightseers (2012), dystopian sci-fi adaptation High-Rise (2015), an adaptation of romantic gothic mystery Rebecca (2020), and a truly deranged guilty pleasure in the form of monster sequel The Meg 2: The Trench (2023). The quality of his work can wildly vary (for me, his ineffectual Rebecca is the low point, with Hitchcock’s 1940 take remaining vastly superior), but I actually think Normal might be his most solidly entertaining film to date.
In short, Normal is certainly recommended to fans of violent action comedies. It’s anchored by the splendid Bob Odenkirk, whose mild-mannered, reluctant action hero schtick is all the more potent for being seasoned with just the right amount of world-weary melancholy. Obviously, it’s far-fetched nonsense from start to finish, but it’s an immensely enjoyable hour and a half.
The Dillon Empire beyond Substack
For a full list of my published novels, click click here.
For more on my novels and other fiction projects, click here.
For my Patreon page, click here.
For my Medium page, click here.
For the Dillon on Film podcast, click here.
Odenkirk has range...