Film Review – A Man Called Otto

“A Man Called Otto” is a remake of a 2015 Swedish picture, “A Man Called Ove,” which was an adaptation of a best-selling 2012 novel by author Fredrik Backman. The material presents a juicy leading role for any actor, and Tom Hanks takes command of the feature, portraying a curmudgeonly man fighting the grieving process while managing the needs of his neighbors. “A Man Called Ove” wasn’t short on crowd-pleasing moments, but the original endeavor managed to find its footing with heavy material, offering an engrossing study of personal connection and pain management. “A Man Called Otto” doesn’t share the same tonal balance, with director Marc Forster (“Christopher Robin,” “Machine Gun Preacher”) fumbling the sincerity of the effort, often too quick to go saccharine with a tale that requires a crustier sense of humanity to fully embrace. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com