R | 1h 30m | Crime, Comedy | 2026
In “Normal,” Ulysses Richardson (Bob Odenkirk) is the interim sheriff of the remote Minnesota town of Normal: Population, 1,890. Normal’s recently (and inexplicably) deceased Sheriff Gunderson is clearly a tribute to Police Chief Marge Gunderson of 1996’s “Fargo.” It is, after all, another law enforcement story in much the same snowy location.
Sheriff Richardson quickly establishes a reputation for being Lawman-lite. When he runs across a ticket-worthy, badly parked car, he does leave a ticket but it’s not filled out. It just says, “Park better.” Ulysses’s noninvasive approach and tempered demeanor is welcomed by Mayor Kibner (Henry Winkler), who is proud of Normal’s sleepy reputation.
Director Ben Wheatley relishes the small-town hokeyness inherent in a “Fargo”-esque setting, from Kenny’s ice cream parlor to eternally grinning Deputy Mike Nelson (Billy MacLellan). Mike’s just bought an exceptionally squeaky leather motorcycle jacket to go with the motorcycle he hasn’t purchased yet. He’s acclimating, you see. Ulysses wants to tell him that the jacket is a squad car uniform violation, but he doesn’t want to rain on Mike’s bike, which is reminiscent of the Arlo Guthrie lyric: “I went to see a friend named Mike. Mike no longer has a bike.”
Here We Go
The sleepy small-town apple-pie milieu is highly enjoyable, and Ulysses solves the hilarious neighborly quarrels using the honeyed voice of reason—until it slowly starts to dawn on him that almost every building contains an oddly abundant store of weaponry. There’s also a rampaging moose with a paint can on its head. And fledgling bank robbers Lori (Reena Jolly) and Keith (Brendan Fletcher).
Slowly, the facade begins to crumble, and eventually Lori and Keith’s botched bank job reveals—like 1986’s “Blue Velvet”—the town of Normal’s sinister underbelly. There’s even a “Blue Velvet” missing-ear tribute. All of the above culminates in extensive mayhem and a very high body count. Luckily, while very violent, all the death is quite comical thanks to the bumbling hijinks of the townsfolk.
Made by the same people behind the “John Wick” films, “Normal” has a similar type of visceral, over-the-top action style tailored to elicit both cheers and groans from the audience. The fights feature a variety of found-object weaponry, from which much of the comedy derives.
Performances
The town of Normal is filled with interesting characters, none more so than Sheriff Gunderson’s daughter Alex (Jess McLeod of “It’s a Wonderful Knife” and “The Unforgivable”). Ex-military Alex is an outsider in the town since she’s, ahem, nonbinary, but also because she knows something suspicious is going on that likely led to her dad’s death. While McLeod doesn’t get much screentime, she’s the heart amidst the carnage, even though all of it is funny.
However, this is ultimately Bob Odenkirk’s show. His schtick is being mild-mannered on the surface while hiding a dark inner streak that allows him to do crazy, violent things yet remain likable. Even when showing little emotion, Odenkirk makes Ulysses an endearing, interesting character audiences will love.
Like Liam Neeson before him, it won’t be at all that upsetting if he does roles just like this for the rest of his career, because he does them so well. He’s clearly having a rip-roaring good time doing them.
“Normal” isn’t likely to go down in the annals of action-flick history, but it’s a highly enjoyable 90-minute popcorn movie.
‘Normal’
Director: Ben Wheatley
Starring: Bob Odenkirk, Henry Winkler, Lena Headey, Jess McLeod, Billy MacLellan
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Release Date: April 17, 2026
Rating: 3 1/2 stars out of 5
Would you like to see other kinds of arts and culture articles? Please email us your story ideas or feedback at features@epochtimes.nyc
