Nobody 2 Turns Brutal Action Into the Ultimate Family Vacation

Nobody 2

★ ★ ★

Nobody 2 is a sequel to a film that never really needed one. The original was a near-perfect action film, sharp and unrelenting in its 90-minute runtime. In both films, Hutch Mansell (Bob Odenkirk) is a family man dealing with his prior life as a high-stakes “auditor” for U.S. government intelligence agencies, taking on off-the-book assignments. The first film saw him desperately trying to adapt to a quiet family life, working at a mundane job for his father-in-law as he keeps his inner combat veteran stuffed deep down.

Here he’s back at work, taking shady contract jobs in the private sector to pay off the $30 million stockpile he torched in the first film. This time, he’s trying to rebalance his family life, because the often violent contracts he completes are exhausting and clearly taking their toll.

Bob Odenkirk as Hutch Mansell
© 2025 Universal Pictures

Hutch is in a rut again—even his bloodied knuckles need a vacation.

His wife Becca (Connie Nielsen) is becoming distant, echoing a thematic repeat from the last film. He’s been missing his son Brady’s (Gage Munroe) football games and barely has time to connect with daughter Sammy (Paisley Cadorath) whose stolen kitty-cat bracelet set off the events in the first film. They’re a functioning family unit, but old fractures threaten to split them for good.

Hutch plans a last-minute summer vacation just before the school year starts—the only place his dad David (Christopher Lloyd) ever took him and his brother Harry (RZA) as kids. It’s a place called Plummerville, and of course, it’s not long before Hutch finds himself deep in a long-gestating, criminal underworld, tucked beneath roller coasters and gourmet hot dog stands.

Christopher Lloyd as David Mansell
© 2025 Universal Pictures

What I like best about Nobody 2, and its prequel, is that despite Hutch being a hitman so dangerous that those in the know will immediately stand down at the sight of the military tattoo on his wrist, the hand-to-hand combat is bloody, messy and unglamorous. The fights feel real—and we practically feel every punch he takes. He really earns his victories.

Despite this being the gritty action version of National Lampoon’s Vacation, it holds true to the core elements that made the previous outing memorable. Hutch is really just an ordinary, everyday guy with an exceptional past and unconventional job. His heart is with his family, yet he shows compassion to nearly everyone outside the villain’s circle. He’s a gentle giant disguised as an unassuming family man. This concept works well and almost stands toe-to-toe with the original on many levels.

Sharon Stone as Lendina
© 2025 Universal Pictures

But things skid off track when we’re introduced to the film’s ultimate villain, Lendina (Sharon Stone). The minute Lendina is onscreen, the air seeps out of this fast-paced vehicle. It took a little pondering to understand why, because there’s nothing inherently wrong with Stone’s performance or the character herself. Stone brings a potent mix of psychotic energy and criminal mastermind swagger—on paper it should work, but it doesn’t. This type of character fits more within the worlds of John Wick or The Expendables.

Connie Nielsen as Becca Mansell
© 2025 Universal Pictures

While the adventure in Nobody 2 is fantastic and over-the-top, the characters are grounded in gritty reality. There’s no place for Lendina here, even if Stone nails the role.

It’s still a fun, entertaining ride. Fans of the original won’t be disappointed—Hutch remains a dangerously lovable family man. I walked out of the film already looking forward to what Hutch might do after his Plummerville vacation. No doubt, that $30 million debt will still be waiting.