"Nobody 2" (2025) Film Review-Forget serenity and relaxing when checking out THIS style of family vacation

Remember when there was this amazing comedy titled “National Lampoon’s Vacation“? To this day, it is a true classic of the genre and certainly put a new spin on precisely what KINDS of insanity could occur when taking the fam on the road. Then, like with so many successful films, there was the sequel (which for me was even MORE of a classic than the original!). However, the third film emerged….and then a fourth. Suddenly, the luster was gone and disappointment set in.

While not exclusively, this can often be the trend when it comes to sequels, especially when having established the level of quality the parent film brought about. So, with this Summer’s new follow-up to 2021’s “Nobody” came around, even with much anticipation and promise, I approached with caution in my heart and mind so as to avoid being let down should the second entry in this newly forming series just somehow fall short. Fortunately, it does NOT do so…with a bang!

Focused on “auditor” (yeah, right!) Hutch Mansell (played with total bravado and sheer excellence again by Bob Odenkirk), the intrepid “everyman” (yeah, right!) tries to abscond from his faults and secrets revealed in the first installment and takes his family to a childhood wonderland he enjoyed back in the day as a boy. Of course, there couldn’t be ANYTHING wrong going on in good ole small town Plummerville……right? YEAH, RIGHT! Queue the mass amount of total sarcasm in that statement, please!

Thanks to director Timo Tjahjanto, the plan Hutch has for a peaceful trip to get things on track with wife Becca (Connie Nielsen), son Brady (Gage Munroe), and daughter Sammy (Paisley Cadorath) goes decidedly OFF the rails when the town proves to be FAR more than it appears on its fun park facade. If you recall the bus sequence in the first film (just AWESOME!), there is a similar moment on a boat here, amongst ALL the OTHER over-the-top fights, explosions, and mayhem we want from this narrative.

Folks, this is sheer Summer eye-candy, meant to sit back, enjoy for what it is, and just sink into the craziness. I must admit, while it is perfectly valid for everyone to have their opinions, some of the negative reviews about this effort somewhat baffle me. I mean, yes, this ultimately is a “wash, rinse, repeat” situation here, but so what? What were you expecting? And if the answer is “something more”….well, WHY? This film delivers the escapist goods in spades…and guns, knives, grenades, lighters, boat rails, and everything else. Period. It’s great!

Add to all of that a spectacular group of supporting actors that first includes returnees Christopher Lloyd as Hutch’s “just as nuts” father David, RZA as Hutch’s adopted younger brother Henry, and Colin Salmon as Hutch’s boss The Barber. BUT, we ALSO have John Ortiz, Colin Hanks (who is the spitting image of his superstar Dad!! It’s surreal!), and Sharon Stone to boot amongst other superb appearances that suit the specific characters they play. The finale in general might be expected, but there were still revelations to be had in this film!

The Summer ain’t over yet, peeps! Therefore, if you really are looking for some flat out darkly comedic, action-driven liberation from the Hollywood humdrum, grab a ticket and a seat at your local theater and catch this wondrous ride into all-encompassing diversion. We might see a third one, we might not. Either way, it IS nice when a sequel, at least for this critic, gratifyingly lives up to its predecessor with energy, thrills, spills, punches, and explosive gusto!