Normal

Chris Sawin 4/22/2026 9:21:07PM 8.4

Normal is a flawed action film, but it uses its basic concept effectively. Its throwaway characters are used to a kick ass and bullet-heavy advantage while the action is swift, brutal, and doesn’t overstay its welcome. This is a bite-sized action film that delivers unabbreviated destruction. https://bit.ly/BobNormal

CinemaSerf 5/17/2026 3:06:46PM 8.4

I thought there something of the "Twin Peaks" about this as a temporary sheriff arrives in the town of Normal for a short stint following the untimely death of his predecessor. "Ulysses" (Bob Odenkirk) is about as laid back as a man can get, and so expects to do little in the sleepy town aside from settle squabbles between shopkeepers and listen to his deputy's squeaky leather jacket. Then the alarm in the bank goes off. Surely it's not being robbed? Anyway, his entire force race to the scene only to discover that - well that would be telling. Suffice to say, this new lawman finds himself in quite a predicament and with military grade hardware lined up against him; an unexplained giant pile of gold; an angry man with a sliced half-pinky and some very narked Yakuza heading to town, it looks like it's going to be a long night in Normal. Meantime we are treated to something of the obligatorily complex marital backstory from the sheriff as he strains to find an ally in this town that is so very much not what he'd (or we'd) come to expect. Odenkirk is a master at playing the understated character and he does that really quite well here, but the rest of the roles are a bit too undercooked. Just ask the "Fonz" himself (Henry Winkler) whose blink and you'll miss it effort makes very little impact in his snowy mayoralty. The last quarter of an hour is lively, messy and quite good fun and the whole ninety minutes passes along effortlessly enough, but I'm not too sure I'll remember this for very long - moose notwithstanding.