Hollywood’s obsession with Taken clones has turned action cinema into a factory of recycled rage: grizzled dad, imperiled family, Eastern European goons—rinse, repeat. But the Nobody 2 trailer? It’s a neon-soaked middle finger to the formula.
The Twist? Vacation Mode.
Most Taken knockoffs unfold in dimly lit warehouses or rain-slicked alleys. Nobody 2 swaps grime for sunscreen, pitting Bob Odenkirk’s Hutch against a theme-park mafia in “Plummerville” (tagline: “Plummerville is Summerville!”—cheeky, sure, but it works). The contrast is jarring: Hutch headshotting goons while his kids clutch cotton candy. It’s John Wick meets National Lampoon’s Vacation, and somehow, it clicks.
Director Timo Tjahjanto’s Secret Weapon
The Indonesian director behind The Night Comes for Us brings a kinetic, blood-splattered flair. Notice the trailer’s fight choreography—less Bourne-esque shaky-cam, more balletic brutality. A standout moment? Hutch using a carnival hammer to, well, hammer a henchman. It’s absurd, but Tjahjanto’s visual panache sells it.
Sharon Stone’s “Alpha Female” Problem
The trailer introduces Stone as crime boss Lendina, touted as an “alpha female.” Cue eye-roll. It’s 2025—can we retire this tired trope? That said, Stone’s manic energy (see: her snarling, “You ruined my fucking merry-go-round!”) suggests she’s having way more fun than the script deserves.
Why This Franchise Works
Nobody succeeded by embracing its absurdity: a milquetoast dad who’s also a killing machine? Gold. The sequel doubles down, weaving family drama (Hutch’s marriage is crumbling—between assassinations) with over-the-top action. It’s self-aware without being smug—a rarity in today’s meta-obsessed Hollywood.
August 15 can’t come soon enough. Nobody 2 isn’t reinventing the wheel—it’s just spinning it with style.
🔥 Hot Take: If John Wick is a somber symphony, Nobody 2 is a punk-rock cover. And honestly? We’re here for it.
