When a bank robbery exposes a deep-seated criminal conspiracy connected to the Yakuza, the new sheriff uncovers that the peaceful town of Normal is, in fact, a corrupt, violent militia. Ulysses must then fight his own compromised deputies and residents.
When the team behind the JOHN WICK movies decided to cast Bob Odenkirk as the protagonist in “Nobody,” many doubted whether he could pull off the shift to action star. Those doubts faded once the movie premiered—Odenkirk handled the physicality and intensity of the role with surprising ease. Unfortunately, the follow-up didn’t manage to capture the same magic. So, when I caught the first trailer for “Normal”—which openly advertised its connections to both JOHN WICK and NOBODY—I braced myself for another unlikely Odenkirk action film. Luckily, Odenkirk and writer Derek Kolstad, working with director Ben Wheatley, have put together a thriller that feels more believable than either the NOBODY sequel or many of the over-the-top moments in JOHN WICK. That’s not to say “Normal” is entirely realistic; there are still plot points that push the limits of plausibility. But even the wildest sequences maintain a groundedness and discretion that make them work.
Odenkirk’s character, Ulysses, steps in as the interim sheriff of Normal, Minnesota, after the previous sheriff dies unexpectedly. Ulysses isn’t ambitious—he just wants to finish his eight-week appointment quietly and move on. The locals are friendly, right down to the business owners and his fellow officers. Mayor Kibner, played by Henry Winkler, even floats the idea of making Ulysses the permanent sheriff.
Not long after Ulysses starts, an alarm at the police station signals a bank robbery. He and his colleagues respond, only for Ulysses to be betrayed and attacked by his own deputies inside the bank. He manages to hide in the vault, surrounded by piles of cash, gold, and heavy-duty weapons. When the mayor turns up, he reveals that the town is part of a larger criminal racket that funnels profits to the Yakuza. Kibner insists that Ulysses and the two robbers—Lori and Keith, played by Reena Jolly and Brendan Fletcher—must be killed to keep the operation secret. Realizing that Lori and Keith are just pawns, Ulysses teams up with them.
With the townspeople now hunting them, Ulysses and his new companions scramble to survive. Their stash of advanced weapons gives them an initial edge, but they soon run low on ammo and have to risk returning to the station. Just when things look hopeless, the townsfolk announce that the Yakuza are on their way to recover their stake. This twist lets Ulysses broker a shaky deal: everyone will cooperate to fend off the Yakuza and disguise the bank fiasco as a car crash. Of course, things don’t go according to plan.
Director Ben Wheatley balances wild action, grim comedy, stylized fights, and moments of genuine emotion, drawing the audience into Ulysses’s world. As the story unfolds, we discover a defining moment from Ulysses’s past that made him withdraw from life. But trapped in the vault with Lori and Keith, he’s forced to reactivate his survival instincts and reconnect with his purpose. Ulysses isn’t your usual action star, but when pushed to the brink, he steps up with grit and determination. The film’s over-the-top violence is part of its charm, earning laughs and cheers alike.
For me, “Normal” stands head and shoulders above the lackluster “Nobody 2,” which already strained credibility. “Normal” wraps up neatly, without teasing a sequel—though with Hollywood’s track record, another installment could happen if it’s a box office hit. Personally, I’d much rather see something original next time, with new faces and creative action. Here’s hoping anyway.
In Theaters Friday, April 17th
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