Naturally, you’d expect an actor with a rep for being one Holllywood’s nicest to be cast as this grumpy old man. Tom Hanks plays the title character who rigidly enforces his housing community’s rules and has never recovered from the loss of his beloved wife. As expected, people or events have to change his extremely negative attitude and this happens primarily in terms of a new neighbor, played by Mariana Treviño. Her delightful spunk provides the film’s best comedy, esp. opposite the appropriately cantankerous Hanks. While the story is predictable, it’s written and directed with integrity. It’s based on a Swedish film called A Man Called Ove (my review) and much of the same sentiments apply. Both are well directed (this one by the highly accomplished Marc Foster), nicely acted and sweetly told. 
(3.5 / 5)
