Bob Oldenkirk in NORMAL an Unusually Awful Film

The bankable actor Bob Oldenkirk whose career went into high gear as the cunning attorney on BREAKING BAD leading to his starring vehicle in BETTER CALL SAUL has gone onto starring in action movies that have been more or less diverting. However, his film NORMAL (2025) now airing on Netflix is an abysmal flop. Oldenkirk stars as Ulysses, a temporary top cop in the small midwestern town, Normal, MN. Described as a crime/thriller/drama/comedy, it's a tragedy this vehicle crashes and burns in all these genres. Unlike Oldenkirk's previous films "Nobody", "Nobody 2" and the terrific drama "Nebraska" there is Nothing redeeming in this over-the-top violent film that relies on Oldenkirk to make  it work. Even Oldenkirk can't carry the burden of such a ridiculously construed crime plot with the motley lot of quirky, local yokels who turn on Ulysses when he inadvertently stumbles on the town's clandestine, criminal conspiracy with the Yakuza (Japanese crime syndication). The Yakuza intended to blend in with this unassuming town to stow and launder their gold bars and ill begotten money in its lonely bank. A couple of fumbling (but good hearted) bank-robbers attempted to rob the bank but are dismayed by the measly haul of cash. "Hardly anybody deals in cash anymore," the bank teller tells the woe begotten pair.  Ulysses gets the distress single on the obsolete station alarm and heads to the bank with his deputies. "I'm going in. Hold your fire." Ulysses tells his crew. This they don't do. As he's about to go in he gets shot at from behind by his backup. The police force and townies intend to kill Ulysses to keep the town's consensual cover-up, secret. They're all expecting a big pay day from the Yakuza. The only one's not firing at Ulysses are the two bumbling bank robbers. They were busy trying to be good samaritans to a bank hostage who was suffering a heart attack. Ulysses tells the two that now the three of them are a team against the townspeople. The three form a formidable, likable trio who prove heroic fighting off the duplicitous throng. Blood bath, mayhem and everything else goes wrong. Even Oldenkirk, who also wrote and produced, can't make this movie worth watching. NORMAL is so abnormally horrible, should you start watching you won't be able to look away from this unbelievable train wreck. My sane advice is to think twice before starting NORMAL and avoid this stinker at all costs.