Nobody 2

Its predecessor thrived on the ability to subvert expectations while indulging in some cool-dad wish fulfillment, something that Nobody 2 can’t replicate, at least not with the same level of anonymity its title suggests.

By nature, this follow-up to the 2021 vigilante saga is more familiar than fresh, although at least it keeps the pace lively while offering some creatively choreographed fight scenes accented by over-the-top brutality.

The story digs into the past of Hutch (Bob Odenkirk), the nonchalant middle-class hitman who took out a small army of Russian mobsters in the first film.

That type of dirty work is putting a strain on his relationship with his wife (Connie Nielsen) and two children. He needs a break, but his boss (Colin Salmon) is skeptical: “This job is in your nature, and nature always wins,” he cautions.

At any rate, Hutch proposes a family vacation to a rundown resort where his quirky father (Christopher Lloyd) took him as a child. When they arrive, there’s not much time to soak in the nostalgia before Hutch’s strange encounters with a standoffish theme-park proprietor (John Ortiz) and a corrupt local sheriff (Colin Hanks).

He doesn’t heed their advice to leave, of course, which eventually entangles him with a crime boss (Sharon Stone) with a score to settle. Mayhem ensues as Hutch realizes that in order to clean up the town, he has to splatter it with blood first.

Known for Asian action extravaganzas, Indonesian director Timo Tjahjanto stages some violent highlights, such as a confrontation inside a vintage arcade where Hutch gives some of your favorite gaming implements new functions.

Odenkirk retains his family-man appeal as a paternal tough guy, but the formulaic script surrounds him with oddball eccentrics and stock villains who aren’t nearly as compelling.

Stone’s character in particular comes off as more cartoonish than menacing. She needs more screen time or context — anything to provide dimension.

Meanwhile, the rapid-fire collection of sight gags and one-liners registers more strongly than the film’s half-hearted exploration of redemption, masculinity, legacy, and fractured family dynamics.

It’s a showcase for some superior stunt work and pyrotechnics, along with the trendy use of ironic music cues during its set pieces. Yet Nobody 2 fails to match its stylish intensity with new narrative ideas.

Rated R, 89 minutes.