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Original poster

A man called Otto

36 replies

Mummieslncorporated · 28/01/2023 05:59

I had no intentions to see this film. I saw the original (in English titled 'a man called Ove') at a film festival (in swedish with subtitles) and really enjoyed it. I really didn't see the need in recreating it.

But it just so happened that I ended up with a free (to me) cinema ticket at a cinema I hadn't been to before. Free? Ok sure, I'll rgive it a go.

What can I say? I loved it. The original is still great, but they have done a really good job. So many times a foreign language (to me) film gets remade into English and loses something along the way. I'm not sure that this lost anything.

If you are into big Hollywood blockbusters, this might not be your kind of thing. But if you like films that get to the heart of people, you may well love this.

OP posts:
TenPenceMix · 28/01/2023 06:24

They should have kept the original title imo.
The book was incredibly boring I didn't finish it but the film sounds better from your description.

Coffeecreme · 28/01/2023 06:26

i struggled but finished the book, and enjoyed it,
i didnt watch the film as it was too soon
but happy to try again

PicklesAndTequila · 28/01/2023 07:04

I really enjoyed it too.

Bard6817 · 28/01/2023 07:09

Loved the original - still available on anazon prime i think.

Agree - the hollywood versions tend to be poor comparisons.

LtdEdition01 · 28/01/2023 07:15

I loved it too 🙂

hattie43 · 28/01/2023 07:15

I saw it a couple of weeks ago . I hadn't read the book so no idea what it was about . I wasn't sure when it started off but as it progressed I started to love it . I would love to think there are communities out there like that but I've never been part of one yet . I think it's having the characters bringing everyone together . It was very sweet and a nice change from doom n gloom guns violence etc

dudsville · 28/01/2023 07:20

I do enjoy blockbusters, but still enjoy "world cinema". I love the original, but as soon as i saw TH was in this remake i knew I'd want to see it. Haven't yet, but I'm glad to hear these good reviews!

mymeatballsmymeatballs · 28/01/2023 07:22

I saw it last weekend. I hadn't read the book or seen the other film adaptation. I loved it so much, cried about 5 times🤣Tom Hanks is always brilliant but I also really loved Marisol, she was so funny. Loved all the neighbours really, they were so interesting and quirky.

Mindymomo · 28/01/2023 07:26

I am going this morning, just myself and my son. Just us 2 booked in at the moment at a small cinema.

cariadlet · 28/01/2023 07:30

I haven't seen it yet but was thinking about it. Then I read a review by someone who had loved the book and the review put me off the film.

He said that he had been really enjoying it until a minor character turned up. In the book, the character was gay but they had changed the character to trans. That had really upset the reviewer.

I'm fed up with the tagteaming of LGB with the TQ+ and with the erasure of gay and lesbian characters so won't bother with the film.

Landlubber2019 · 28/01/2023 07:34

It's a lovely film and worth a watch, however I agree the minor trans character popping up was a bit strange and was left unresolved, which was disappointing

rookiemere · 28/01/2023 07:36

I've been to see the film.

It was enjoyable, but not memorable.

I take your point @cariadlet but I wonder if part of the reason they changed it is because it's more unlikely in this day and age that DPs would reject their DC so much for being gay - I don't know but actually thought it worked well in the context.

The one bit I felt a bit jarring was that I think Otto and the neighbours were in their 60s possibly early 70s but they were portrayed as being absolutely geriatric.

WestBridgewater · 28/01/2023 08:11

rookiemere · 28/01/2023 07:36

I've been to see the film.

It was enjoyable, but not memorable.

I take your point @cariadlet but I wonder if part of the reason they changed it is because it's more unlikely in this day and age that DPs would reject their DC so much for being gay - I don't know but actually thought it worked well in the context.

The one bit I felt a bit jarring was that I think Otto and the neighbours were in their 60s possibly early 70s but they were portrayed as being absolutely geriatric.

I wouldn’t say geriatric, the neighbour Reuben had a stroke and his wife had Parkinson’s disease. The wife cared for her husband well and wasn’t portrayed as a quivering wreck just because she had PD.

Horsemad · 28/01/2023 18:30

I saw this recently - loved it! A really heartwarming film. ❤️

Clawdy · 29/01/2023 18:38

Saw it today, and really enjoyed it. Just wish they had included the sweet little moment near the end of the book, where the little girl calls him "Grandad ".

Mindymomo · 29/01/2023 21:00

I really enjoyed it, lots of laughter and crying. Only myself and my adult son in cinema. Couldn’t stop thinking about it after.

Horsemad · 31/01/2023 05:58

I was the same @Mindymomo, kept thinking about it afterwards.

Mouldyfoodhelp · 02/02/2023 21:51

Loved it, I was apprehensive beforehand but so worth it

Abracadabra12345 · 05/02/2023 21:14

I saw the film first and was intrigued enough to read the book afterwards. I thought the film followed the book unusually closely (often film adaptions are wildly different) though with a couple of variations. I thought Tom Hanks was brilliant but so was the rest of the cast.

Shocker: I enjoyed the film more than the book

Tomblibooz · 05/02/2023 21:22

This thread has persuaded me to see it. I LOVED the book, read it not long after my Grandad passed and Ove reminded me of him in many ways.

I liked the original film, it wasn't as good as the book, but meant I got to share the story with my DH and DC who hate reading. I was on the fence about this new version...I don't like that they changed his name!

Ninjama1 · 20/05/2023 00:02

I just watched this and my goodness I cried quite a few times - not that good really when you are on a plane! Loved it.

UsingChangeofName · 20/05/2023 00:30

I did enjoy it, but I do think it should have have a trigger warning at the start.
Watching someone trying to take their own life is not something a considerable number of people should be confronted with, without them knowing it is going to happen.
I thought the film was done well, but can't imagine the effect it would have had on someone whose loved one had either taken their life or attempted to.

SueblueNZ · 20/05/2023 00:46

@UsingChangeofName I agree.
There were three or four suicide attempts and I felt there should definitely have been a warning. My partner lost his brother to suicide and it was upsetting for him to watch.
I loved that TH's son played the young Otto and that his wife Rita Wilson was the film's producer. Very talented family.

Ninjama1 · 20/05/2023 08:39

UsingChangeofName · 20/05/2023 00:30

I did enjoy it, but I do think it should have have a trigger warning at the start.
Watching someone trying to take their own life is not something a considerable number of people should be confronted with, without them knowing it is going to happen.
I thought the film was done well, but can't imagine the effect it would have had on someone whose loved one had either taken their life or attempted to.

You are 100% correct on this!

ApolloandDaphne · 22/08/2023 11:51

I watched it last night for my film club and found it really tedious and obvious. Too shmaltzy for my taste.