Icon actor/producer Tom Hanks teams up with the maker of World War Z and Finding Neverland for a remake of a Sweden film staring Rolf Lassgard
Marc Foster’s A Man Called Otto is more contrived and less winsome than the 2016 film which didn’t come across as silly and soppy. Even if there’s an affable sincerity regarding the transformation of a genial, unstable recently retired 60 year old.
Hanks assumes the crotchety Scrooge with certain aplomb, a bit agitated when things don’t go his way. How this all blends certain self-abusive urges with looking back scenes, to revert a misanthropic presence out of a Philadelphia condo turns out to extend its stay as son Truman fits in a younger Otto.
Some distaff roles are adequately filled by Rachel Keller (as a loving school teacher wife) and Marina Trevino (as a pregnant neighbor) as you see the precursors and morphing from a deep-seated wistfulness. Here’s another chance to see the range of the estimable Hanks (even after recent parts like Geppetto and Col. Tom Parker) but he deserved better material and execution from the likes of Foster.