What happens when a town called Normal is far from ‘normal?’ Written by the creator behind the John Wick franchise, Derek Kolstad (with the story co-written by its lead star Bob Odenkirk) and directed by Ben Wheatley, Normal (2025) follows new interim sheriff Ulysses (Bob Odenkirk) as he’s transferred to the small town of Normal in Minnesota, USA. But for a seemingly quiet town, it holds a dark secret that soon becomes explosive. Whilst uncovering a bank heist ‘gone wrong’, Ulysses discovers that the town is not at all what it seems. Harbouring dark secrets – can he really trust anyone?
Mixing action with black-comedy and thriller elements – Normal’s mash-up of genres works really well to create an extremely well-paced story. There’s certainly Western genre vibes too with long shoot-out sequences, one-on-one fights, and deadly duels. Bob Odenkirk brings a complacent, calm, and carefree attitude to Ulysses’ new role as the sheriff of Normal. He’s a classic case of ‘don’t judge a book by its cover.’ It’s opening scene brings shock, mystery, and intrigue as we yearn to find out more.
Amidst the comedy and action, there’s violence and gore mixed in with candid conversation and humour. There’s strange intrigue, plenty of twists, and strong character development. Dedicated to his town, Ulysses desperately tries to fit in. But something’s amiss about Normal and he can’t quite discover why – until all hell breaks loose. Complete opposites become archrivals – for the small town of Normal vs. the Yakuza. But it’s the seemingly quiet small-town that puts you on edge – knowing there’s something more around the corner. What ensues is a mayhem of complete blood-bath and destruction. Normal no longer feels ‘normal’ at all.
A Chilling Supporting Cast
As Ulysses is introduced to the quirky characters of Normal, it all seems strangely ‘too good to be true.’ The silence is casually too deafening. No crimes nor tales to tell. Ulysses’ consistently positive attitude means he views people through their best intentions. But tough obstacles in the way forces him to step outside his comfort zone and handle dangerous situations just like any good sheriff should.
Joining Odenkirk is a fantastic supporting cast. Normal delves into the backstories of multiple characters from Jess McLeod’s Alex who feels left behind after the death of their father – former sheriff of Normal. What Ulysses brings is a more emotional side – he cares and it shows, making Alex feel more seen. Local bartender, Moira (played by Lena Headey) is a tough nut to crack and ensures everyone knows she runs the local pub with as much might as possible. Yet commanding character of the town, Mayor Kibner, played by Henry Winkler is a typically corrupt figure whom everyone is highly influenced by – holding onto his every word.
Normal Plays with Contrasts
But Ulysses must work with a rather inept police department. They’re the type of characters who you would never expect to even be a part of the department and that’s where the comedy comes into play. Playing like a comedy-duo, Mike (Billy MacLellan) and Blaine (Ryan Allen) think they run the show – both who play their roles fantastically well in this greatly cast action-comedy. Together their brotherly love for each other adds a light-hearted comedy relief to all the action. Their slapstick comedy act show they can’t quite do anything right.
Its soundtrack plays as a character in itself. Dr. Hook’s ever-so-catchy, When You’re In Love with a Beautiful Woman (1979) feels as if it’s synonymous with the film. It’s contrast with the tone of the scene plays out so well here. It shows the importance of a well-thought-out soundtrack where the perfectly timed music plays alongside the fight sequences. Normal plays and toys with contrasts and creates scenes where you truly don’t know what will happen next.
Of course, Odenkirk’s lead as the constantly fighting, Hutch Mansell in the Nobody franchise draws slight comparisons here as do the fast-paced fight sequences to the John Wick franchise. Normal leads with a fantastic direction from British director, Ben Wheatley who manages to capture the slow-paced town and kicks it into action with fight sequences that will make you want to squirm.
Comedy-Action That Sets Itself Apart
Normal springs a few cinematic inspirations to mind. Its story is reminiscent of such classics of their genres including Fargo (1996), Hard Rain (1998), and the remake of Assault on Precinct 13 (2005). What on the surface appears to be a small-town drama implodes into so much more. Deep down there’s something troubling the new sheriff of Normal as his constant nightmares bring a strong backstory into view.
Utilising a slow reveal, we soon begin to understand why Ulysses acts like this. He’s calm under pressure and his likeability means you completely root for his story and mission. He’s a good guy but as his character proves, sometimes people can take advantage of unrequited kindness. Ulysses is the underdog no one expects to succeed.
Director Ben Wheatley and writer Derek Kolstad bring a real sense that they set out to make a mash-up of comedy-action that sets itself apart. And colours outside the lines is what it certainly achieves. Normal touches on themes including emotional trauma, childhood abuse, trust and manipulation. For a small town, there’s sure a lot happening. Expect action, explosions, twists, and comedy scenes so quirky they truly defy belief. With a rather sweet ending to fulfil all that it gifts us.
Normal’s new spin on the bank heist genre is violent yet laughable in all the right places. There’s a Fargo-type atmosphere, unexpected teamwork, and a cast which adds to the script with backstories worth investing in. This may be the town of Normal but don’t expect anything ‘normal’ about this latest action-comedy.
Normal (2026) is available to watch across UK cinemas now. You can read more reviews, including The Christophers (2026) here.
Rating: 3 1/2 Stars