Normal (2026)

Chris Sawin April 22, 2026

★ 7/10

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 May 17, 2026

★ 6/10

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 obligator…

Sierbahnn May 25, 2026

Enjoyable and refreshing. There's a lot of police movie tropes that people revert to when writing their scripts. There's a certain amount of side characters, plots and twists you can introduce. This movie does something interesting with all of that and while the execution isn't flawless, it's still a very entertaining movie and its casting is phenomenal. Parts of the movie are unbecomingly dark, which takes away from the action on screen as you simply cannot observe it. Other than that, I think it's a very technically proficient movie, and it is definitely funny enough to keep you engaged. The characters are interesting enough so that you get invested in them, which means that you care, and that builds the tension around them. I would say that this is a solid action movie and a far better cop movie than it initially presents itself to be.

jGZeYSJ51gZzqdrzwXJ7 June 18, 2026

“Normal” feels like a self‑conscious ‘woke’ spin on the modern action thriller, and for me that’s where it completely loses the plot. It plays as a politically one‑sided, ideologically heavy‑handed shoot‑’em‑up that’s more interested in attitude and messaging than in building believable characters or a coherent story. Asian yakuza are mostly reduced to stereotyped cannon fodder, while other characters are framed as more complex and sympathetic, which gives the violence a racially tone‑deaf, hypocritical edge instead of anything resembling clever satire. Even the better‑staged action beats can’t hide how thin, repetitive, and smug the whole thing is, so by the end I was just bored and irritated rather than entertained.

MovieGuys July 16, 2026

★ 6/10

It could easily be said it's "normal" for Hollywood to shamelessly recycle winning ideas. Such is the case with action flick "Normal". This is essentially a re-skinned "Nobody". Same lead, essentially the same premise, of a seemingly easygoing character of no consequence, turning out to be a badass of considerable consequence. It's blatantly lazily unoriginal, and yet it still works. Actions fast, pyrotechnical and bullet-ridden. The best part for me is "The Fonz", a smug character I've hated for years, getting blown up...ooooh, so satisfying! In summary, nothing new on offer here. That said, the actions fast, explosive, creative and fun. Worth a look.

Martin Oaks October 6, 2026

★ 4/10

**The danger of NORMAL-izing the formula** Ulysses Richardson (once again played by a circumspect and supposedly enigmatic Bob Odenkirk) is a lawman haunted by a turbulent past and deep personal crises who decides to take a temporary gig as acting sheriff in Normal, a sleepy, freezing Minnesota town. Looking for a breather from his marital struggles and inner demons, Ulysses hopes to find some peace in a seemingly quiet community. But, of course, that calm is shattered when he responds to a botched bank robbery, uncovering a massive, violent international criminal conspiracy involving the townspeople, the mayor, and even the Japanese Yakuza. It’s a total plot salad that traps the protagonist in a rat race where everyone wants him dead, forcing the taciturn sheriff to dust off his most lethal skills just to survive. "Normal" is pure irony: a collision between Midwestern rural slic…