Plot

A Man Called Otto, Otto Anderson, a 63-year-old widower, had retired from a steel company and was living in suburban Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He had lost his beloved wife Sonya, a schoolteacher, six months prior and was in a state of despair. He had attempted suicide twice, but was interrupted by his new neighbors, Marisol, Tommy, and their two daughters, Abby and Luna.

Otto had flashbacks to his past, of when he had tried to enlist in the army but was rejected due to his hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and of when he had asked Sonya to marry him at his graduation with an engineering degree. He also recalled their weekend visits to her favorite bakery.

He was then befriended by a local transgender teen, Malcolm, who had been a student of Sonya’s. Otto fixed Malcolm’s bicycle and the two formed a bond. Otto also learned that his old friend Reuben and his wife Anita were in danger of losing their home due to a real estate company. With the help of the neighborhood and a journalist, Reuben and Anita were able to keep their home.

Otto collapsed and was taken to the hospital, where he listed Marisol as his next of kin. After being told by a cardiologist that Otto’s heart was too big, he passed away. At his funeral, attended by his neighbors, it was revealed that he had left his bank accounts, car, and house to Marisol and her family.

Otto Anderson had lived a life of love and loss, but in the end, he was able to find peace and contentment in his final days.

Critique

Otto, played by Tom Hanks, was a man of the Midwest, living in a suburban neighborhood of identical row houses. He was a man of strong opinions, often finding himself in disagreement with those around him. Despite his grumpy exterior, Otto had a kind heart, and was once a young man with an interest in engineering and a dreamy wife, Sonya. When Sonya passed away, Otto found himself alone and struggling to find joy in life.

Enter Marisol and Tommy, a happily married couple with a newborn baby. Marisol, bubbly and kind, takes a liking to Otto and attempts to bring out the good in him. Otto also meets Malcolm, a transgender teenager thrown out of his home by his father, and Jimmy, a fitness-obsessed neighbor. Despite Otto’s grumpiness, these characters show him patience and acceptance.

Otto eventually finds himself in a position to save someone’s life, and his heroic act brings him newfound respect from the community. He also builds a friendship with Marisol, and takes Malcolm in. Through these relationships, Otto learns to appreciate the small wins of everyday life, and the importance of a functioning and harmonious community. A Man Called Otto is a genial, earnest dramedy that is sure to be a crowd-pleaser for your next family gathering.