“Nobody” is really something.

It’s an ultra-violent movie about a family-in-peril where the mother and their two chldren are defended by a father in the midst of a mid-life crisis played by none other than Bob Odenkirk.

“Bob, who?” you might ask?

Bob Odenkirk, the “Better Call Saul” guy of “Breaking Bad” fame. That’s who.

Odenkirk emerges as the latest most unlikely action-hero, right up there with Liam Neeson and Bruce Willis (especially the first “Die Hard,” 1988).

You might also wonder why you would want to watch a movie of near-relentless violence where the protagonist repeatedly gets beaten to a pulp. And that’s no fiction.

It’s because of Odenkirk’s normalcy, his “everyman” appearance, and his seemingly inherent integrity, or at least his ability to project that.

If you’re a guy, you might imagine yourself in his shoes. You root for him. And wince.

If you’re a gal, you might imagine him as a steadfast partner. You root for him. And wince.

“Nobody” proves the adages that “No good deed goes unpunished” and “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”

In “Nobody,” Hutch Mansell (Bob Odenkirk) intervenes on behalf of a young woman who is being harassed by a group of young men on a city bus. Hutch puts the young toughs in the hospital.

It turns out that the gang works for a Russian mobster, Yulian Kuznetsov (Aleksei Serebryakov), who is apparently running a money-laundering operation at a nightclub.

Hutch messed with the wrong guys. So did they. Hutch is a former hired assassin, a so-called auditor, a one-man special-ops team.

The screenplay by Derek Kolstad (screenwriter, “John Wick” movie franchise) establishes characters economically and rather brilliantly. The reference to “the kitty-cat necklace” is priceless. I will leave it at that.

The direction by Ilya Naishuller (Russian film-maker and musician, who directed “Hardcore Henry,” 2015, and is in the band Biting Elbows) is similarly efficient, with one scene building into the next, with escalating tension, and cascading violence, at every turn.

“Nobody” draws favorable comparisons to director Danny Boyle’s “Trainspotting” (1996) for its stunning cinematography (Director of Photography Pawel Pogorzelski), fast pace and quick-cut editing (Evan Schiff, William Yeh); the Coen Brothers’ “Blood Simple” (1984) for its redemption by the little guy or gal, and Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction” (1994) for its quirkiness in scene setups and soundtrack placement of popular songs in action scenes for ironic contrast (“Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood,” Nina Simone; “I’ve Gotta Be Me,” Steve Lawrence; “The Impossible Dream,” Andy Williams).

Odenkirk (TV’s “Better Call Saul,” 2015, and “Breaking Bad,” 2009-2013; and movies, “Nebraska,” 2013, “The Post,” 2017, and “Little Women,” 2019) has a placid expression nearly throughout the entire film. His sandpaper-voiced pronouncements are quiet and deliberate. He’s unruffled. But when he gets ruffled, look out. A slight shift of his mouth. A grimace. Clenched teeth. A steelyness in his eyes. And he’s off and running like Daniel Craig’s 007 in the James Bond films.

Supporting roles are well-cast, including Hutch’s wife, Becca (Connie Nielsen); their children (Gage Munroe, Paisley Cadorath); Hutch’s father (Christopher Lloyd, “Back to the Future” 1985, 1989, 1990), a delightful surprise, and RZA (Wu-Tang Clan), who brings it to his role of Harry.

“Nobody” is a very entertaining and satisfying film for all the me’s that nobody knows. Don’t miss it.

“Nobody,”

MPAA rated R (Restricted Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. Contains some adult material. Parents are urged to learn more about the film before taking their young children with them.) for strong violence and bloody images, language throughout and brief drug use; Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller; Run Time: 1 hr., 32 min. Distributed by Universal Pictures.

Credit Readers Anonymous:

The previews for “Nobody” feature Louie Prima’s and Keely Smith’s “Just A Gigolo, I Ain’t Got Nobody” medley (1956), which I didn’t hear in the film. “Nobody” was filmed in Los Angeles and Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. A scene during the end credits seems to foreshadow a sequel.

At The Movies:

“Nobody” was seen at AMC Center Valley 16, the Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley, Upper Saucon Township, with COVID-19 mitigation health protocol observed.

Movie Box Office,

April 9 - 11: “Godzilla vs. Kong” continued to stomp the competition, at No. 1 for two weeks in a row, with $13.3 million, on 3,084; $69.5 million, two weeks.

In its first weekend, April 2 - 4, “Godzilla vs. Kong” broke the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic shutdown records of “Tenet,” which grossed $20.2 million during the Labor Day 2020 weekend, and “Wonder Woman 1984,” which grossed $16.7 million in the first three days of its release during the Christmas 2020 holiday season.

2. “Nobody” moved up one place, $2.6 million, on 2,400 screens, $15.6 million, three weeks. 3. “The Unholy” dropped one place, $2.4 million, on 1,850 screens, $6.7 million, two weeks. 4.“Raya and the Last Dragon” stayed in place, $2.1 million, on 1,941 screens, $35.2 million, six weeks. 5. “Voyagers,” $1.3 million, on 1,972 screens, opening. 6. “Tom and Jerry” stayed in place, $1.1 million, on 1,826 screens, $41.1 million, seven weeks. 7. “The Girl Who Believes in Miracles,” $576,744, on 900 screens, $1.2 million, two weeks. 8. “The Courier” dropped one place, $436,560, on 1,007 screens, $4.9 million, four weeks. 9. “Chaos Walking” dropped one place, $265,000, on 1,300 screens, $12.6 million, six weeks. 10. “The Croods: A New Age” dropped one place, $245,000, on 1,139 screens, $56.7 million, 20 weeks. 19. “The War with Grandpa,” co-starring Allentown’s Oakes Fegley, moved up four places, $25,155, on 255 screens, $21.1 million, 27 weeks, the longest-running movie in the Top 25.

Box office figures from Box Office Mojo as of April 11 are subject to change.

Unreel,”

April 16:

“Monday,”

R: Argyris Papadimitropoulos directs Sebastian Stan, Denise Gough and Dominique Tipper in the Drama-Romance. A Friday night date leads to a Monday morning regret.

“Trigger Point,”

No MPAA rating. Brad Turner directs Laura Vandervoort, Barry Pepper, Nazeen Contractor, Greg Bryk, Jayne Eastwood and Eve Harlow in the Action-Thriller. A retired United States special operative becomes part of an undercover military group that takes out villains around the world.

“Vanquish,”

R: George Gallo directs Ruby Rose, Morgan Freeman, Patrick Muldoon and Ekaterina Baker in the Action-Crime-Thriller. A mother tries to escape her past as a Russian drug courier.

Movie opening information is from Internet Movie Database and is subject to change.

Four Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes