Genre: Action, Crime, Comedy
Directed by: Ben Wheatley
Starring: Bob Odenkirk, Lena Heady, Henry Winkler
Release Date: April 17, 2026
Platform: Theatrical
Rating: 3/5
By Johnny Kristoffersen
“Normal is another action film that ultimately lands as a fun but forgettable experience.”
Bob Odenkirk is continuing to make a name for himself as an action star later in his career, with a third consecutive film following the Nobody movies, and now NORMAL.
In NORMAL, Odenkirk plays interim sheriff Ulysses, who is assigned to Normal, Minnesota. It’s a small town holding onto a big secret. When a bank robbery goes wrong, Ulysses uncovers the town’s dark truth, and he, alongside the two robbers, must fight their way through the entire town to survive the night and escape. It’s equal parts comedy and action, leaning more into over-the-top, creative kills than we’ve seen in previous Odenkirk-led action films.
Odenkirk is believable enough as our protagonist. A sheriff taking interim roles throughout the country for a few months before going on to the next job, trying to not get attached to the people because of a situation that happened in the past. He plays this well, and honestly, this character might have been even more interesting in a straight drama exploring why he struggles to connect with others. The action works for the most part, but with Odenkirk and two robbers going up against an entire town, the odds start to feel a bit too unrealistic for a character meant to be an ordinary guy.
The story was conceived by Odenkirk and screenwriter Derek Kolstad, who ultimately wrote the screenplay. Kolstad, known for the John Wick films as well as Nobody, clearly has the skillset to create high-energy action stories. NORMAL attempts to break away from that formula by presenting a more “everyman” protagonist, rather than a seasoned badass with a hidden past, blending action with a heavier comedic tone.
Speaking about the comedy, that’s where this movie really shines. When it leans into the comedic moments, you get some hilarious deaths and sequences. Unfortunately it starts to reel itself in whenever it goes too far in one direction and that is the biggest issue. It can’t seem to find an identity and stick with it, trying to appease the action fans by not getting too silly.
The story and its structure does feel a little repetitive as the movie continues. Were constantly seeing our hero get out of near-death situations usually followed by another creative kill. While these moments can be entertaining, the lack of variation makes the overall progression feel predictable.
The town itself feels like a typical small-town America setting, but it still plays an important role in the story. It has that “stuck in time” quality, where everyone knows each other, which makes it believable that the entire town is working together to protect its secret. That said, the reveal isn’t particularly surprising, especially given how early the film hints at what’s really going on.
NORMAL is another action film that ultimately lands as a fun but forgettable experience. It doesn’t reach the highs of John Wick, nor does it fully commit to the level of comedy seen in films like Bad Boys or 21 Jump Street. Instead, it sits somewhere in between, never quite finding its footing.
