? Order in the hall: Based on Swedish author Fredrik Backman’s 2012 bestseller A Man Called Ove, A Man Called Otto — an American adaptation directed by Marc Forester (World War Z, The Kite Runner) and starring Tom Hanks as the titular character — follows a grumpy, cynical, holier-than-thou retiree to whom following the rules is scripture.

Having been forced into retirement months after his wife Sonja passed away, Otto dedicates his time to running his neighborhood like a navy — scolding rule-breaking neighbors, casually dropping passive aggressive comments, and making sure everyone knows he’s in charge — though in reality, he really isn’t. Otto is persistent, calculating, and structured, especially when it comes to his latest endeavor: ending his own life.

At this, Otto consistently fails. Despite multiple well-planned attempts, Otto just can’t seem to do it, not out of fear, but out of sheer inconvenience. One attempt fails after a loose screw drops him from the ceiling, another when an unexpected visitor interrupts him, and another when a newly relocated family just can’t seem to parallel park, leading Otto to take matters into his own hands — and in doing so, unexpectedly changing his life for the better.

A new-found family. Tommy (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo) and Marisol (Mariana Treviño), along with their two young daughters, move into the neighborhood. Seemingly clueless, lost, and disorganized, Otto begrudgingly begins helping the family out of frustration, taken aback by their excessive joviality and friendly behavior. As the days pass, Otto begins showing vulnerability and genuine care for the family, albeit hidden under a mask of stoicism.

As Marisol seeks Otto’s friendship, inquiring about his past, we’re taken a few decades back in time. The film introduces a young Otto (Truman Hanks) and a young Sonja (Rachel Keller), detailing their love story, and Sonja’s unfortunate demise. Otto’s personality is shown to be quite different from present-day Otto, yet Marisol’s friendship may just change him back.

A Man Called Otto is an emotional drama, at times hiding under the guise of comedy. At its core, it's a film about grief, love, and friendship — and how no one is beyond rescue. Over the course of two hours, you’ll laugh, cry, and then cry some more. Backman’s stellar writing and character development shine through, and the entire cast — particularly Hanks senior and Treviño — deliver stellar, nuanced performances. Community — and all the inconveniences that makes it one — is a central theme, and the movie deftly and realistically tackles a slew of difficult topics.

If you’ve read the novel, you’ll know how it ends. If this is your first introduction to Backman’s iconic Ove (Otto), you’ll want to keep a tissue pack handy.

WHERE TO WATCH- You can stream A Man Called Otto on Netflix. Catch the trailer on YouTube (runtime: 2:39).

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