Normal stars Bob Odenkirk as a small town sheriff who finds himself trapped in a deadly situation after uncovering deep corruption tied to the Yakuza. The film follows him through one chaotic night as he fights to survive, protect the town, and expose what has been hiding beneath the surface. With a short runtime of around 80 minutes, the movie moves fast and keeps the action coming, even if that pace leaves some of the characters and backstory feeling underdeveloped.
Odenkirk is the clear reason the movie works as well as it does. His commitment to the role, especially with him performing most of his own action scenes, gives the film a scrappy and entertaining energy. The supporting cast is small but effective, with Henry Winkler standing out as the mayor. The film also has a couple of surprising moments involving Winkler and the Yakuza that add some fun twists to the story.
Director Ben Wheatley blends drama, action, and comedy in a way that makes Normal feel different from a typical small town thriller. The problem is that the script does not always match the energy of the action. The dialogue can feel lazy, and the movie does not offer much depth beyond its wild premise. Still, as a fast, entertaining action film with a strong lead performance, Normal delivers enough style and momentum to make it worth watching.
