By John Corrado

Please note that this is a review of the Blu-ray release of A Man Called Otto. For my full thoughts on the film itself, you can read my original review right here.

A Man Called Otto, director Marc Forster’s very enjoyable remake of the 2015 Swedish film A Man Called Ove, is now available on Blu-ray after becoming a modest hit at the box office.

Tom Hanks stars in the film as Otto Anderson, an old grouch grieving the loss of his wife, who gets a new lease on life when the pregnant Marisol (Mariana Treviño) moves in across the street with her husband (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo) and their two young daughters, helping bring him out of his shell.

I really enjoyed this one when I reviewed it a few months ago, with Forster offering a good balance of humour and moments that tug at the heartstrings. Hanks carries the film with a very good performance, and Treviño steals every scene she’s in. While remakes like this are rarely necessary, Otto is a well-made and well-acted film that has its own merits, delivering a poignant emotional impact to go along with the charming story of a grouch softening up in the presence of others. It’s a solid choice for at-home viewing.

Film Rating: ★★★ (out of 4)

Bonus Features (Blu-ray):

The Blu-ray includes a handful of bonus features, including a featurette and music video. A code for a digital copy is also included in the package, which ships with a slipcover.

• Breaking the Rules: Making A Man Called Otto (8 minutes, 45 seconds): A decent overview of the production, including making a few updates to Americanize the original Swedish story, casting Hanks, and scouting locations to shoot in Pittsburgh.

• ‘Til You’re Home Music Video (3 minutes, 7 seconds): Rita Wilson and Sebastián Yatra perform their song from the film.

• In The Studio With Rita Wilson & Sebastián Yatra (2 minutes, 42 seconds): Wilson and Yatra discuss recording the song together.

• Otto Preps His Car For The Kids (1 minute): A short deleted scene from the film.

A Man Called Otto is a Sony Pictures Home Entertainment release. It’s 126 minutes and rated PG.

Street Date: March 14th, 2023