Nobody 2: Starring Bob Odenkirk (Saul Goodman) this sequel to the original picks up where the other left off.  In a John Wick way, Bob plays a family man, wife and two kids who live in the suburbs.   Bob however doesn’t have an ordinary job, and he performs tasks requiring his specialized skills which John Wick would be pleased.  Bob has some anger management issues as part of his package and he has a hair trigger.  It seems his son has inherited some of his genes.

Bob finishes a gig for his syndicate (making a minor dent in the debt that he owes from the consequences of the first film).  But he needs a break as he has promised his wife to have a vacation.   He decides to return to a family amusement park of his youth in the Midwest.  His own Dad, played by Back to the Future Doc Christopher Lloyd, is invited to come back to reminisce as create “new memories” with his grandchildren.  We learn quickly through the local sheriff, played by Colin Hanks with a Forrest Gump haircut, which I will assume that very deliberate, getting in Bob’s face early.   The town has a couple of other notable baddies including Sharon Stone.   Things escalate quickly into a carnage free for all in the amusement park.  It’s funny how there seems to be endless prep time for boobie traps and deadly games all while the baddies are on their way over in what was quite a small town.  

For me, I cheered for Bob and his family.   The baddies were bad enough with Stone chewing on bullets and being ruthless and profane.   It was an hour and a half that went by quickly on an airplane ride.   I am glad that I didn’t pay for it, like the original but it is an interesting new turn for Bob Odenkirk the actor who is clearly looking to shed the Breaking Bad lawyer in Albuquerque gig.

Song Sung Blue: when I had seen trailers for this movie in the theatres I was not overly enthusiastic about the premise.  But like the recently reviewed Rental Family, this story based on a real life couple in Wisconsin had more depth and emotion than just a cover band expose.  I will also confess that this music is what was played at my household and cottage throughout my years (I knew every one of the songs).

Hugh Jackman plays journeyman alcoholic (sober for many years) Mike Sardinia, who plays music to fill his soul instead of alcohol.   He meets at a retro cover band tribute artist Clare (Kate Hudson) who is singing Patsy Cline tunes.   He is immediately awestruck.  

Jackman is excited to find some better paying gigs as he has a teenage daughter and a mortgage.   Hudson had suggested that he had the hair to do Neil Diamond, which he had refused before because he held Diamond in such high regard.  Things happen quickly and they become a couple.   Then just after they have their big break (and it is a really big break) then other things happen.   This all came as a surprise to me.  I was surprised and felt that they dealt with real life in an authentic way.   

I had seen the award nominations for Kate Hudson and was surprised.   I am not surprised any longer.   This isn’t just performing on stage, there were real hurdles for her character to address.  Both Jackman and Hudson were very good in showing their connection.   The rest of the cast includes Jim Belushi, Michael Imperioli (Chris from the Sopranos) who not for a moment did I believe that he could sing like Buddy Holly nor actually play the guitar.  I was emotionally engaged in the story and had more than a few surprises.  The two daughters, one was Hudson’s and the other Jackman’s, are very good as they explore being forced together because their parents have started dating.  It is a charming side story.  This is worth checking out and especially so if you like Neil Diamond’s music, because as Jackman insists throughout, he has way more songs than just Sweet Caroline.