An 87North production remains one of the most thrilling action films ever. With “Nobody 2,” we get more bone-crunching fights, razor-sharp stunts, and Hutch (Bob Odenkirk) struggling to leave the life of an assassin for a life for family.
Though a film like “Nobody” can be more about the action than the plot, the promise of a former assassin striving for quiet suburban family life keeps the story compelling. As such, “Nobody 2” has to punch harder, throw further, and burn hotter than its predecessor, while also keeping its fans and audiences emotionally invested in Hutch and his family’s well-being.
So Indonesian director Timo Tjahjanto, using a story written by Derek Kolstad and Aaron Rabin, has the tall order of blending relentless, inventive action with heartfelt moments that deepen Hutch’s journey as a man who simply wants to escape the life he left behind.
Four years after he inadvertently took on the Russian mob, Hutch remains $30 million in debt to the criminal organization and is working it off with an unending string of hits on international thugs. These jobs are putting a strain on his marriage to his wife Becca (Connie Nilsen) and his relationship with his children. For the former, he is disconnected and often late for family dinners, and for the latter, he is missing important moments in his children’s lives, namely Brady (Gage Munroe), who appears to have a black eye after a game. Hutch seems unable to fully connect or communicate with his loved ones, leading to tension.
The family reflects on his absence or lack of involvement in the past, and there is a desire for him to be a better role model and more present father. So despite being in deep debt, Hutch asks his former handler, The Barber (Colin Salmon), for a break. That may not be so easy as The Barber warns Hutch that he cannot escape his nature and that nature always wins.
So, in an attempt to reconnect with his family, Hutch convinces his family to go on vacation to Wild Bill’s Majestic Midway and Waterpark, the one and only place where Hutch and his brother Harry (RZA) went on a vacation as kids in Plumberville. He appeals appealing to their emotions and sense of togetherness. He explains that, especially when times are tough, it’s important to have happy memories to carry you through.
But a run-in with some local bullies puts the family on the radar of a crooked theme-park owner Wyatt (John Ortiz) and his equally shady sheriff Abel (Colin Hanks). It’s soon revealed that Plumberville is actually a criminal hub where the ruthless Lendina (Sharon Stone) runs a bootlegging operation. Before long, Hutch finds himself drawn fully into the mess as he takes on arcade employees, the sheriff’s station, and the entire mob.
Tjahjanto’s directing style works perfectly for a sequel like “Nobody 2.” He cranks up the intensity, delivering fight scenes packed with visceral brutality and inventive choreography. The elevator fight in particular matches the relentless energy of the first film’s iconic bus brawl. What sets this sequel apart is how it seamlessly blends sharp, well-timed humor into the chaos. In the duck boat brawl, Hutch must fight a sheriff and hired thugs using only whatever is at hand, from life vests and flotation rings to scattered debris. The result is a mix of cringe-worthy injuries and absurdly dark humor, including moments like fish-eating severed fingers that will surely get audiences laughing.
Another action sequence worth noting is the standoff between Hutch and Sheriff Abel in a warehouse. Hutch attempts to make peace by appealing to his nature while threatening to destroy Lendina’s $30 million, which has been soaked with gasoline. The scene highlights Hutch’s restraint and shows how he prioritizes non-violence over escalating aggression, even in a high-stakes confrontation. Of course, this being Hutch, he still manages to find a way to set the money on fire.
Things eventually escalate at the end when Hutch, Henry, Wyatt, and the cranky but fun loving grandfather David (Christopher Llyod) turn the fill the waterpark with their own deadly Home Alone-style traps. One will never want to go into a ball pit or go down a waterslide without double checking after watching this film.
At stake is Hutch’s relationship to his wife and children. He is both a protector and a source of stress for the family. His involvement in dangerous activities creates distance and worry, and his actions and temperament negatively influence the children, especially Brady. There are moments of confrontation where Becca challenges him to take responsibility and be a better partner and father.
So even though Hutch’s past catches up with him wherever he goes, he does make a few attempts to do the right thing and prove that he can be the husband and father his wife and children need. For Becca, the black duffle bag he carries is not filled with weapons or gear but with a wine bottle from the place and time they first met. With his children, he offers guidance to his son Brady, teaching him how to handle challenges like local bullies picking on his sister and encouraging him to strive to be a better person.
It is in these moments, when Hutch steps up as a father and husband, that he becomes instantly relatable. Amid the chaos and violence of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, audiences see a man trying to protect and guide his family. Plumberville, the town where Hutch and Harry visited as kids, also serves as a reminder of simpler, happier times, including moments like sharing hot dogs with his brother, which adds a layer of warmth and nostalgia to the story.
Even Brady and Sammy play vital roles in the story. For Brady, defending his sister and clashing with Wyatt’s son serves as the catalyst that pulls Hutch deeper into trouble. So even though Hutch has an idea of how he would like to create happy memories with his family, the reality is that the chaos and violence that follows him are the memories that will last. It falls to him to interpret these moments as opportunities rather than setbacks, finding meaning and connection even in the chaos.
Much of the chaos stems from how the ruthless Lendina uses Plumberville as a front for her criminal activities. Wyatt serves as the antithesis of Hutch, a father who would do anything to protect his son yet is burdened by a troubled family legacy that ties him to Lendina’s schemes. Although he has tried to break away from his father’s shadow, he fails, and it is his father’s debts that he is forced to repay. And should he fail, Lendina has no qualms about sending her dutiful Sheriff Abel to collect Wyatt’s son.
At its core, “Nobody 2” isn’t just a relentless thrill ride of bone-crunching fights and jaw-dropping stunts, it’s a film deeply invested in the weight of family. The film shows how these bonds shape every choice he makes, from the small gestures of bringing a bottle of wine from the place he first met Becca, to the big, chaotic confrontations that endanger everyone around him.
Even if the violence and crime are never far from Hutch’s reach, and those two things continue to escalate with every new danger that is introduced in a place that has fond memories for him, the dedicated father and husband is determined to protect his family, which sometimes sees him putting himself at immense risk. Plumberville isn’t just a battleground, it’s a town filled with nostalgia, childhood memories, and moments Hutch longs to recreate for his children. Those reflections ground the story and make the stakes feel both personal and universal.
If anything, so much is happening that some of the emotional developments feel rushed. That includes how the film justifies Hutch’s absence when his kids need him most. Some of the convinences are also contrived coincidences to get Hutch into the thick of the action or save him from something fatal. Still, considering this film runs at 89 minutes it’s impressive how much story, action, and character work.
“Nobody 2” delivers on every promise of its predecessor while expanding the emotional stakes in ways that hit harder than any punch Hutch throws. It’s an action film that strikes a balance between its incredibly inventive stunt and fight choreography with humor and themes of family. With Tjahjanto’s direction pushing the action to new extremes while Kolstad and Rabin’s story gives it emotional weight, “Nobody 2” proves itself not just a worthy sequel, but a film that hits both the gut and the heart.
8.75/10
“Nobody 2” opens in theaters on August 15, 2025.
