A man called otto Adds Sentimentality, Loses Soul

By Angelina Chen Staf Writer

Dark and bittersweet, the comedy drama A Man Called Otto is a remake of the 2015 Swedish hit A Man Called Ove. Released on January 13, the lm features a cantankerous grump embraced by the love of his community like its predecessor. However, in spite of expert performances and a soothing soundtrack, the lm is marred by poor thematic choices and a stale script. Regardless of its beautiful message, the movie falls short of leaving its intended heartwarming impression on its viewers.

A Man Called Otto’s plot is generic, following the life of Otto Anderson (Tom Hanks), an old widower, who has given up on life since his wife’s death. His multiple suicide attempts are disrupted by the arrival of a new family next door. One of his chief interrupters is the blissfully married Marisol (Mariana Treviño), who helps Otto overcome his depression by asking him for small favors. From parallel parking to dishwater maintenance, Otto is able to display his wide expertise and enjoy the uncharacteristic warmth of his new neighbors. ese scenes are well-executed, but lose their signicance amidst a lack of realism. None of the supporting personalities condemn Otto, even while knowing their e orts will be rejected.

When the audience looks past the feel-good moments of the movie, it becomes apparent that A Man Called Otto has a few less cogent elements within its script. Otto’s newfound rise as a social media sensation is not only unrealistic, but also adds unnecessary melodrama to an already bloated script. Otto is able to exploit his newly attained fame to prevent his neighbors from being evicted in a dramatic move that is uncharacteristic given his former opinions on them. In typical US remakes of foreign lms, producers tend to homogenize elements of the movie to make it more relatable to the audience. However, A Man Called Otto has preserved most as- pects of its Swedish original — including major plot points and character backstories — at the expense of its quality. e saving grace of the lm lies in its actors: though numerous characters were added in this remake, the titular characters remain the same. Hanks plays the role with an abrasive edge and his acting allows the viewers to simultaneously comprehend the drama and Otto’s backstory. ough Hanks is frequently seen with a furrowed brow and an angry expression, he smiles during key scenes, displaying the full extent of Otto’s emotions as he slowly navigates his way through a medical condition and making amends with his neighbors. In contrast to Hanks’ portrayal of a curmudgeon, Treviño embraces her role as the bubbly, uplifting neighbor, her expressions remaining perpetually bright and open in juxtaposition to Hanks’ gru ness. Others in the neighborhood like the transgender teenager Malcolm (Mack Bayda) and Otto’s old friend Reuben (Peter Lawson

Jones) engage the audience with their compelling, lively interactions.

Moreover, the lm’s soundtrack, courtesy of the composer omas Newman, adds life to otherwise bland scenes. His instrumentals hum along the rifts in time between Otto’s frequent ashbacks to his younger days when his wife was still alive. e music creates depth and allows the audience to fully immerse themselves into Otto’s life experiences and hardships.

Overall, A Man Called Otto is a remake that neither adds nor takes away from its Swedish legacy. ough its portrayal of a grief-stricken man nding eventual peace is moving, the blatant presentation of its themes and heavy-handed plot overpowers its delightful acting and soundtrack. Despite Otto’s protests, A Man Called Otto delivers a cloying, sentimental family picture that fails to leave a lasting impression.

Grade: B-

“When I Was Your Man” by Bruno Mars | ESTHER: “Better an Revenge” by Taylor Swift | HANNAH: “Jealousy” by MONSTA X | HELEN: “Hate You” by Jordi | JENNIE: “good 4 u” by Olivia Rodrigo | JERRY: “Cheshire” by ITZY | JOANNE: “Somebody Else” by e 1975 | JULIA: “Kill Bill” by SZA

KAITLYN: “How” by Elina | KARINA: “Cheating is a crime” by takayan | ROHAN: “break up with your girlfriend, i’m bored” by Ariana Grande | SANAH: “Old Friend” by Mitski | SARINA: “Les” by Childish Gambino | SHELLEY: “Treat You Better” by Shawn Mendes | MRS. COHEN: “You Belong With Me” by Taylor Swift

Opened in Nov. 2022, e Breeze Cafe is an independent breakfast and lunch restaurant located in Newark that serves Mexican-American breakfast options. e Smoke Signal visited their location at 39698 Cedar Blvd. in the Cedar Springs plaza to see if their foods match up to the exceedingly positive online reviews.

Overall, e Breeze Cafe’s selection of food was vast, from breakfast boards to burgers, though none of the dishes were particularly special. e matcha waffle was a bit of a disappointment, consisting

Breezes Past Perfect

By Chloe Gao & Katie Tang Staff Writers

of a plain waffle with two scoops of matcha ice cream and a handful of strawberry slices. With a chocolate drizzle, the appearance was appealing, but the flavor of the waffle was average, and the matcha ice cream lacked the actual taste of matcha. e salmon benedict consisted of a perfectly poached egg smothered with hollandaise sauce and capers rested atop caramelized onions, all on a plain bagel. Despite having a picture perfect presentation, the dish fell short due to the soggy, untoasted bagel and unbalanced flavors. e salmon and capers made the benedict overly salty, and the hollandaise did not have enough acidity to balance it out. ough the food was mediocre at best, the drinks were a saving grace, especially the signature ube latte. Served in a unique glass cup, the drink was a gorgeous purple color and had an unforgettable taste. It was extremely creamy, and had a distinct ube flavor. e matcha latte was similarly well-flavored, though a bit on the sweet side.

Right at opening, the cafe was filled with active staff serving early customers. Upon entering the cafe, customers are greeted by friendly staff and are shown to tables based on party size. When ordering, the staff are patient and try their best to accommodate the customer’s needs. After the meal, they are quick to provide the bill upon request and clean the tables promptly after a party leaves.

Nestled in Newark’s Cedar Springs Plaza, e Breeze Cafe is decorated in a light and minimalistic style, with natural colored walls and seats, light wood toned tables and floors, and a striped sage green accent wall. Customers walking in are greeted by friendly staff at the front desk and guided to the sectioned booths in the center or separate tables lining the walls. Bright indoor and natural lighting combined with light early-2000s music and small potted plants create a fresh atmosphere in the restaurant.

Ranging from about $10-20, regular menu items are served in generous por- tions fit for their price, though slightly on the higher side. Fun-sized meals provide smaller alternatives at a lower price, but the difference is only a few dollars. A little underwhelming, the fun size classic french toast consisted of two slices of toast and a pat of butter, a very small portion for its price of $7. Although the popular breakfast boards, which serve a variety of breakfast foods in an artful display, are on the expensive side, priced at $30-35, they have enough portions to serve a small group of people. Drinks are reasonably priced at around $3-9 and go well with any food choice, and they have incredible range.

Despite being a popular eatery with hour-long wait times, e Breeze Cafe’s food fails to impress, especially considering the hype, the unreasonable pricing and small portion sizes. e Breeze Cafe is a great spot for customers who are looking for an aesthetic picture of food and inviting ambience, but for those looking for a delicious, no-frill meal, this cafe is one that could use a lot of improvement. ▪

PHOTOS BY STAFF WRITERS CHLOE GAO & KATIE TANG GRAPHICS BY A&E EDITOR SANAH BHARDWAJ