Movies & TV / Reviews
Overlook 2026: Normal Review
Image Credit: Magnolia Pictures
Loading...Directed by: Ben Wheatley
Written by: Derek Kolstad
Starring:
Bob Odenkirk – Ulysses Richardson
Henry Winkler – Mayor Kibner
Lena Headey – Moira
Ryan Allen – Deputy Blaine Anderson
Billy MacLellan – Deputy Mike Nelson
Brendan Fletcher – Keith
Reena Jolly – Lori
Peter Shinkoda – Joe
Jess McLeod – Alex
Running Time: 90 minutes
Rated R for strong bloody violence, and language.
It’s been an absolute delight to see Bob Odenkirk’s unlikely journey into the realm of action hero. It was never completely out of left field; Odenkirk’s savvy at genre melding has been on display for years, most memorably of course on the neo-noir dark dramedy stylings of Better Call Saul. Still, I wouldn’t have bet that Odenkirk would follow Liam Neeson down the action thriller road but have been 100% here for it.
After establishing his action credentials in 2021’s Nobody and last year’s sequel, Odenkirk takes another step into the genre by teaming with thriller maestro Ben Wheatley on Normal. The action thriller, which screened Friday at the Overlook Film Festival, lets the actor play into his talent for action and comedy in equal amounts for a riotously entertaining experience.
Odenkirk stars as Ulysses Richardson, a sheriff who travels to the town of Normal, Minnesota. Ulysses is set to serve as their interim sheriff after the previous one unexpectedly died. With his marriage in tatters due to a recent incident in the line of duty, the new sheriff is hoping for a job to take his mind off his troubles.
His new goal is to not care too much, which is hard to do when he sees little things here and there that set off his internal radar. But his trust in his instincts is reeling, so he shrugs off the local police department’s surprisingly heavy armory when their worst problem seems to be being shipped the wrong yarn color or arguments over not matching Amazon prices.
The humorously folksy ambiance carries the first half of the film, as Odenkirk amiably learns the ins and outs of the town with just a hint of something deeper around the edges. He travels around with the enthusiastic Deputy Mike (Billy MacLellan) and his creaky new leather jacket, gets a surprisingly generous offer to stay on from the mayor (Henry Winkler), and chats it up with steely barkeep Moira (Lena Headey) about the previous sheriff’s curious but plausible-enough death. He also meets the sheriff’s nonbinary child Alex (Jess McLeod), who has been ostracized in the wake of their father’s death.
The slowly rising tension comes to a head when a couple of desperate out of towners (Reena Jolly and Brendan Fletcher) try to rob the bank. The ill-advised move sets off a powder keg that blows the town’s secrets wide open, with Ulysses caught in the middle as he tries to grapple with — or even survive — the fallout.
Normal came from an idea cooked up by writer Derek Kolstad, who worked with Odenkirk and producer Marc Provissiero on Nobody. It feels very adjacent to that film, though it swaps out its John Wick (also a Kolstad script) premise for Western elements and strong Hot Fuzz meets Fargo vibes (the previous police chief’s name is Gunderson, which has to be an homage to the latter film). The film takes its time to get going, but it’s never slow as it sets up the house of cards that Wheatley relishes knocking over in the back half with over-the-top action and a lot of comedic violence.
Wheatley is the perfect director for this. While some parts of his action resume have been a bit rickety, he’s a master at blending genres whether in the folk horror and crime thriller mix of Kill List or the trippy 17th historical insanity of A Field in England. Wheatley is at his best when he’s able to lean into the weirdness of insular communities and let loose, both of which he does with aplomb here.
Odenkirk is the clear star here of course, and he’s perfectly cast as the good-natured Ulysses who smiles over his troubled past. But he’s also working opposite a talented batch of actors who give it their all. Winkler channels the sleazy energy of Jaws’ famed Mayor Vaughn, and MacLellan brings bright-eyed energy to his dynamic with Odenkirk early on. McLeod is engaging and gets moments to shine as Alex takes on a sidekick role and while Headey is sadly not given much to do as Moira, she makes the most of her scenes.
There are elements in the story that feel a bit undercooked, and parts of the final act seem tacked on to pad the runtime and give an excuse for more carnage. But when the carnage is this fun, it’s very hard to complain. You’re not going to get deep themes here, but as 90 minutes of action-comedy entertainment it delivers the goods.
Overlook Film Festival takes place in New Orleans, Louisiana from April 9th through the 12th. Normal releases in theaters on April 17th.
