Normal is a fast, funny, and violent genre mash-up (Overlook 2026 review)

Bob Obenkirk as Ulysses Richardson in Normal - Courtesy of Magnolia Pictures

Bob Odenkirk's career has been interesting to follow. He's still best known as Saul from Breaking Bad and its sequel, Better Call Saul. Since then, however, he's become somewhat of an action star, thanks to the Nobody movies. In his latest starring role, he plays Sherrif Ulysses Richardson in director Ben Wheatley's genre mash-up Normal. The first half of the movie is rather introspective before the bullets start flying in the gory and violent second half. It's an entertaining film that's part Hot Fuzz mixed with a dash of Fargo.

Ulysses takes a temporary job as sheriff in Normal, Minnesota after the town's previous sheriff apparently died. Initially, everyone seems nice and in frequent phone calls to his ex-wife, Ulysses reflects upon the ho-hum town and his job. In fact, the first half of the movie mostly revolves around Ulysses interacting with the townspeople, including the rather chipper Mayor Kibner (Henry Winkler) and barkeep Moira (Lena Headey), who's also the daughter of the apparently deceased former sheriff. Through various flashbacks and voicemails that he leaves for his ex, we also learn more about Ulysses, including a violent incident from his past that he can't quite shake.

Yet not all is as it seems in the snowy Midwestern town. Despite how chipper and polished the mayor appears, major secrets lurk beneath the surface. Following a bank robbery, Ulysses learns that the Japanese mafia The Yakuza have been hiding money in the tiny town, a perfect place considering it's basically just one main street and little more. The bank robbery draws their ire because it threatens the money they have hidden. This puts Ulysses at odds with just about everyone in the town because they're in on the dark secret and want to protect it. Meanwhile, the bank robbers end up allied with the sheriff because they're the only ones who don't want him dead.

The second act really ramps up, and the runtime flies by at that point. There's lots of gore, bullets, and bloodshed, which isn't surprising, considering Derek Kolstad wrote the script. He also penned the first few John Wick films and the Nobody movies. Once again, Obenkirk, who in this case plays an everyman character floating through life, from one job to the next, is thrust into another action role. However, amid the action, there's still lots of humor in this 90-minute film that's reminiscent of Obenkirk's years playing Saul.

Though the runtime isn't long, the film does struggle with its pacing and sudden shift in tone. As already stated, the first half of the movie is rather introspective with Obenkirk offering frequent voiceover narrations. There's also a lot of time spent focusing on the town including its locals, shops, and colorful characters. Winkler especially gives one moving dialogue in which his character praises the virtues of Main Street America and how difficult it is for these towns to hang on. By the midway point, though, the movie really kicks into high gear without much of a transition. It's too much of a jolt.

Following his years playing Saul Goodman, Obenkirk has really leaned into the unsuspecting action hero role. Meanwhile, Wheatley, who's best known for his horror films and thrillers like Kill List and In the Earth, continues to grow and evolve as a filmmaker. His latest work struggles with its pacing and tone, but it's sure as hell an entertaining mishmash of genres that will make for a fun time at the movies.

Normal recently screened at the Overlook Film Festival. It'll release in theaters on April 17.