Living in a house on a closed-off oval of a street, Otto is not just his neighborhood association's resident crank, he's its unofficial watchdog for everything from vehicle rules to animal control to basically whatever irritates him.

Newly jobless as a forced retiree from the auto plant, believably friendless, and a widower of many months, Otto approaches his various attempts at suicide with procedural efficiency, only to be interrupted unwittingly by the newest move-ins, a kind, spirited young family of four led by sharp-tongued, pregnant Marisol.

Having never saw the original source material, and fearing that Hollywood were just being lazy, I had trepidation when going to see this. Was it a gimmick to cast Hanks a grumpy man, after all, he's the nicest man on the planet....

How wrong I was, as I found this film to be captivating and emotionally draining from the upstart. Hanks is wonderful as the 'I can't stay angry for long' titular character, and although he has a very stand offish persona, his back story is sad, and you realise quite quickly why he has a problem with the world. He dislikes the situation, not necessarily the people around him.

When Marisol arrives, the film becomes effervescent, and like the audience, Otto cannot help but be drawn in by this wonderful, loving person, no matter how hard he tries.

But this film carries a very dark side to it, and as the film progresses, you realise that Otto has given up, and the fact that he is emotionless to this fact, makes the film that little more bittersweet. He helps people, and then he helps them some more, but the air of his suicide is still evident in the narrative and the overall feel of the film.

The flashbacks are both truly beautiful and harrowing, and I must admit, I was brought to tears several times during the film. If, by way of the trailer, you think this is grumpy Hanks playing it for laughs, you'll be in for a shock, because this is not that film. There are some funny moments, but it's not an out and out comedy, it's so much more than that.

What a great start to the year.....

Good grief there are some really grumpy reviewers out there. This is the perfect vehicle for Tom Hanks and he makes the most of the opportunity. ( I note that he and Rita Wilson are producers ). Yes it is a remake of a classic Swedish movie but this plays out to a much larger audience while retaining the same sentiments. Well written and acted this is great entertainment moving seamlessly from comedy to drama and ultimately packs an emotional punch that makes it memorable and pushes it into one of the best movies of the year . A great reminder of why Tom Hanks has been at the top for so long while providing a break out supporting role for Mariano Trevino who is genuinely both very funny and very moving. Can I also highlight the soundtrack ... especially the Kate Bush single . Highly recommended .

The Producers of this film would like you to fall in love with the grumpiest man in America in "A Man Called Otto"...even though it's a remake of a Swedish movie about their grumpiest old man based on the Fredrick Backman book, "A Man Called Ove".

I'd be lying if I said I didn't fall for this movie, unashamedly, hook, line and sinker.

I was expecting the usual something got lost in translation approach from the Americans and churned out sappy cinema, but it wasn't.

Sure it plays on your vulnerable human emotions and you'd have to be made of stone or even more cynical than me not to get the feels as the cool kids say.

I admit that to date I haven't read the book or seen the original Euro version that was the highest grossing foreign film of 2016 in the US, so I don't have those reference points, but what I do know is the Hollywood version deals with some very contemporary issues of social media, transgender and unscrupulous property development well.

The story goes, despite being deposed as head of his gated community (over a valid issue) our grumpy 60 something retiree Otto continues to watch over his neighbourhood with an iron fist.

Checking the gates are closed to through traffic including slimy property developers, also sorting out parking permits and recycling bins on his daily rounds.

When a pregnant new neighbour and her family (including dim witted husband and two gorgeous daughters) move into the house opposite Otto and a stray cat lands on his door step, it sets off a chain of events that changes his life for the better (mostly).

Tom Hanks is "Otto" and is brilliant in his own understated acting style.

He's got to be Oscar bait for this moving role.

Any lesser American actor could have turned this film into a schmaltzy, sugar coated affair.

Otto will make you laugh, cry and sigh so pack some tissues.

"A Man Called Otto" is a beautiful love story retold in timely flashbacks from the present to the past that don't jump all over the place like some movies do leaving you feeling disoriented.

Hanks real life son, Truman, plays "Otto" in his youth.

As the movie progresses you learn where the pain comes from in his life as he opens up like a box of chocolates.

This is my first film review for 2023 and if the rest of this years flicks can be this damn fine I'll be a happy camper.

"A Man Called Otto" has set the bar high for everything that follows.

This is a must see movie for anyone with a big heart.