Normal Movie Review: An Unmissable Action-Comedy Surprise

Introduction (Warning Contains Spoilers)

I had doubts about the movie Normal. My fear was that it would be repetitive of Bob Odenkirk‘s previous action movies, specifically Nobody. But then I was proven wrong.

The movie is quite unique. It combines action, comedy, and mystery to produce an interesting movie. Bob Odenkirk has once again shown why he makes for such an incredible character actor. He adds depth, comedy, and charm to the character.

“Normal” is an American action comedy movie. It was directed by Ben Wheatley based on a screenplay by Derek Kolstad. The story was jointly written by Kolstad and Bob Odenkirk.

Normal features Bob Odenkirk, Henry Winkler, and Lena Headey. The setting of the movie is the imaginary city of Normal, Minnesota, where an interim sheriff learns about the conspiracy in town. This happens after a failed bank heist.

A Confident Directorial Vision

The direction of Ben Wheatley is one of the greatest merits of the movie. However, it may not suit everybody. He chooses to stick to his unique style that incorporates dark humor with violent outbursts.

Eccentricity of small towns features throughout all scenes. It is fun to watch the movie due to its unpredictable nature. Instead of building huge scenes of action, he prefers mystery.

As is often the case with the setting and tone of a movie, these aspects cannot help but draw comparison with another movie, Fargo. Much like Fargo, the film Normal is set in a small Midwestern town.

Violence is portrayed gradually on the background of a deadpan comedy. There are elements of shocking violence amidst the normalcy. Unusual secondary characters resemble those created by the Coen brothers.

Similar is the juxtaposition of ordinary life of the community and criminal plot. However, Wheatley manages not to copy the formula and brings more action into the mix.

Camera wise, Wheatley employs a subtle style of cinematography most of the time. This leaves room for characters and dialogue to have their day in the spotlight.

However, he shifts to dynamic cinematography whenever action scenes begin. This technique helps keep the tension high at all times.

One such criticism is that there seems to be an imbalance in terms of the tone of comedy, mystery, and action.

There may be some moments when one can say that the tone of comedy or action was not well-balanced because of their sudden transitions. On the other hand, these very shifts define the character of the movie.

In general, it can be said that the director succeeds in his vision due to the fusion of genres. He does not forget about the characters during this process.

The film shows some of its influences, namely Fargo, but at the same time creates its own identity, which is defined by the pacing, comedy, and Odenkirk’s understated central performance.

Cinematography That Lets the Story Breathe

The cinematography of Armando Salas helps to make Normal better in an understated way. His approach makes the movie have a very atmospheric and realistic look that complements the mysterious, comical and action-oriented storyline quite well.

The director does not try to rely on visual gimmicks, but rather creates the right atmosphere through the setting. The wintry land of Minnesota becomes a character by itself.

The comparison to Fargo becomes inevitable in this regard as well. The snowy road scenes in Normal seem to echo those of Fargo’s dull color scheme.

There is a very subtle approach to camera work in both cases as well, depicting small town life. However, Normal does not simply copy the style of Fargo. Instead, the cinematography in Normal fits well within Wheatley’s brisk approach to story telling.

Among the strengths of Salas is the clarity in the execution of the actions. Despite using set pieces, there is no movement of the camera at all.

This makes it easy for the audience to see what is happening. There is no need for fast cutting for building tension.

One drawback, if there is any, is that the film’s visual style proves to be more efficient than attractive. One can hardly find a shot which will make you remember this film after you’ve seen it.

This is what actually makes the film strong. The visual style does not distract viewers from the plot or actors, but just creates a true atmosphere which captures viewers into the world of Normal.

A Story Built on Trust and Hidden Secrets

Ultimately, Normal goes beyond being just an action-comedy movie. Beyond the shootout scenes and the funny elements, deeper messages can be found.

The film discusses the issues of trust, corruption, and the darkness that lies beneath. It uses the idea of duality between how things seem to be and how things really are. Even quiet towns have their own dark sides, the film implies.

What makes this story interesting is that it unveils the mystery step by step. It does not move from one chase to another in a hurry.

As the acting sheriff tries to put pieces of the puzzle together, we see that happening too. It adds to the suspense. And it allows other characters to emerge.

The mixture of genres in the movie works quite well for the most part. However, the movie is not always able to find an appropriate balance in its approach.

For example, the movie alternates dark scenes and funny ones. Not all viewers might be pleased by such alternations. The same applies to twists – some of them seem very predictable to those who watch crime thrillers.

However, even with such drawbacks, the story is still interesting to watch. It revolves as much around its characters as around the plot.

Thanks to the subtle play of Bob Odenkirk, the movie seems realistic. The mystery in the story is kept sufficiently gripping. While the story may be inspired by some classic small-town crime tales, it has enough personality to be interesting.

Pacing That Rewards Patience

One of the most distinctive features of the movie is its rhythm. Instead of starting off with a bang, the movie allows itself enough time.

It sets up the town, its inhabitants, and the main mystery. In order for this to happen, it is necessary that the viewers be engaged first.

With the further development of the investigation, the rhythm grows constantly. Twists help to move the plot forward without making it overly complicated. Action scenes are evenly distributed in the whole movie, which helps to avoid monotony.

But at the same time, this conservative way is not going to please everyone. Those viewers who are searching for an action-packed film like Nobody will feel the pace a bit slow in the first part.

There are some scenes in the second part of the film where the investigation is proceeding in a very cautious way. However, the conservative way turns out to be useful for the film.

On the whole, the pace seems to be balanced. The suspense, humor, and action seem to be well balanced together. The story is allowed adequate time to progress. However, at the same time, there is sufficient momentum for keeping audiences engrossed.

Performances That Carry the Film

The performances are one of Normal’s greatest strengths. The cast brings plenty of personality to this unusual genre mix.

Once again Bob Odenkirk shows himself to be an exceptional actor. He has proven again why he is one of the most reliable character actors out there.

Viewers can probably think of yet another unwilling action star like in “Nobody”. In this case, his acting appears much more subtle and character-based. It combines dry humor, cleverness and self-confidence.

This makes the interim sheriff not only credible but also entertaining. Unlike in many other movies, Odenkirk does not try to take over the screen through actions.

But the film’s ultimate ace in the hole lies in its casting of Henry Winkler, who goes completely against type to play the mayor in an absolutely brilliant performance that plays on viewer expectations.

Winkler takes the charm he has built up through decades of audience favorite roles and twists it around into an element of pure unease through his role as the leader of the plot to take down the town.

The intense, snake-like mental showdown between him and Bob Odenkirk creates one of the best conflicts in the whole film.

Lena Headey is just as good in her part. She brings an aura of power and mystery to everything she does. Her acting is polished and very mysterious at the same time. Although she is not seen on the screen as often as Odenkirk, she utilizes her screen time to its full potential.

If there is one flaw, however, some of the supporting actors should have been developed more, which would have added more effect to their performance. Regardless of that, the three main actors bring life to the whole story.

Action That Serves the Story

Even though the movie Normal is an action comedy film, action doesn’t dominate in it at all. Set pieces are present in the movie but not that often. Every encounter is justified and not something usual. There is a natural blend of action into the investigation process.

The fight and gun-play sequences have been excellently choreographed. They stay comprehensible throughout.

The movie does not use frantic editing or too much shaky camera work, which makes modern day action movies hard to understand.

Director Ben Wheatley and his cinematographer Armando Salas prefer clean frames over such filming techniques.

Again Bob Odenkirk is quite convincing in the action scenes. In contrast to the movie Nobody, where the emphasis lies on fighting techniques, the action here stems from the character of the protagonist. More emphasis is placed on wit rather than domination.

There is one small point where the movie falls short. Viewers who are looking for continuous action will not be satisfied. Instead, the focus is on the plot and character development.

Big action scenes are secondary to the plot. However, in this case, the lack of large action scenes is a good thing. It makes the film better in the end.

Strengths, Flaws, and Final Thoughts

On the whole, it has to be said that Normal works because it knows what it is all about. Its best features include the interesting performance that is featured within the film.

Bob Odenkirk gives a very good performance. The film benefits greatly from its choice of setting. There is a great mixture of mystery, dark humor, and action in the film.

The direction of Wheatley and the subtle cinematography of Salas create a distinct mood that is both familiar and fresh.

Unlike Nobody, this film takes its own way, being more concerned about characters and story-telling than anything else.

Nevertheless, the movie does have some problems. The first part moves at a pace that might put off some audience members. People who expect the movie to be a thriller will find themselves getting bored.

Comedy versus violence might not blend well all the time. It seems that some secondary characters should have been fleshed out more. This results in some emotional parts being less effective.

A handful of plot developments are fairly predictable, though. Fans of crime films may see some twists coming early.

Even with all its drawbacks, the pros definitely weigh more than the cons. Normal is an entertaining mix of genres.

This movie is unique because it does not conform to the regular action-comedy mold. While it may not revolutionize the genre in any way, it still features good acting, great humor, and suspense equally.

Normal is both an enjoyable and refreshing action comedy. The film works in the way that it does not conform to the audience’s expectation. I did not expect anything else other than a film similar to Nobody.

However, the film turned out to be quite surprising since it is mainly characterized by mysteries. Dark humor dominates most scenes in the movie.

Ben Wheatley’s good directing is key to the whole film. An amazing cast, headed by Bob Odenkirk, brings everything together.

However, there is a possibility that some people will find it slow-paced due to their fondness for action scenes.

Also, not all tonal changes come across as perfect; however, this does not really affect the movie as such.

The movie continues to be fun throughout the entire movie. This movie does not try to revolutionize its genre at all.

This movie convinces me that Bob Odenkirk is not just another action star but is a versatile actor. Again, Bob has shown himself to be very versatile as an actor.

He is one of the best character actors around right now. If you’re looking for good acting and a mysterious story, then this is definitely the movie for you. Good action scenes complement the film perfectly.