Parents' Guide to Nobody

Odenkirk's winky "Dadsploitation" film feels destined for cult status. It's about a man who feels emasculated by the mundanity of suburban married life. After his home is invaded and his teen son beaten in the mayhem, he reclaims the throne that his testerone seems to demand with force and might -- or at least, that's how some sympathetic viewers may see it. But while the situation is played out seriously, there's an underlying dark comedic element that's in on the joke; it's almost but not quite parody. It's not funny, per se, but some odd, quirky moments will manifest as quotable lines -- the kind that show up on T-shirts.

Part of Nobody's weird wackiness is the increasing creativity of the violence. What starts as mesmerizing kick-butt takedowns morphs into cartoon violence on par with Wile E. Coyote cartoons. It seems meant to make viewers guffaw while still being bloody disgusting. The whole endeavor is evidence that toxic masculinity is alive and well, even if it now sometimes comes with a wink and a smile. Part of it is the unabashed embrace of two macho clichés: a classic sports car and a cache of guns (which, but of course, end up not being as effective as two fists). The film is really kind of ridiculous, and it knows it. That's what makes it fun.