A Man Called Otto

"A Man Called Otto", the Swedish film from 2015, became an unexpected success around the world. It had good box office, won Oscar nominations. Naturally, then, eight years later an adaptation from the United States arrives with "The Worst Neighbor in the World". Produced and starred by Tom Hanks ("Elvis"), the film makes a basic remake, as we expect from these American adaptations, but knows how to move. To do this, the story follows Otto (Hanks), a grumpy old man who gave up on life after the loss of his wife and wants to end it all. But when a young family moves into the neighborhood, he finds a refreshment with the perceptive Marisol (Mariana Treviño), leading to a friendship that will change his world. It's an obvious and somewhat beaten plot, even before the Swedish film conquered the world, but it works for a very specific reason: to make you cry. Even though it is directed by the very weak Marc Forster ("007: Quantum of Solace"), the feature film has heart. Obviously, it takes advantage of many successes of the original to build this narrative and, in its mistakes, tries to find solutions - such as the relationship with the neighbor, which in this North American version is much more alive and true. Hanks also does very well: although recycling what Rolf Lassgård did very well, he finds particularities for his Otto. In the end, those who embark on the proposal and forget the original, will not be able to follow the credits with tears taking over the eyes.

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