Streaming Recommendation: NORMAL

Back in the 1980’s, my brother and I would get together to watch “Body Count” flicks with such stars as Arnold and Stallone taking out myriads of bad guys while saving the day.

Over the course of time we’ve moved on to such action stars as Nicolas Cage, Jackie Chan, Tom Cruise, Liam Neeson and Jason Statham, but a new name has emerged as a go to action star in this day and age and it is a name that you have to shake your hear in disbelief.

That name is BOB ODENKIRK (Saul Goodman in BETTER CALL SAUL and BREAKING BAD).

Starting with 2012 NOBODY (and to a lesser extent, it’s 2025 sequel NOBODY 2), Odenkirk plays the weary, “been there, done that” hero who just wants to be left alone, but when pushed to the brink is a nuisance for whatever malfeasance the bad guys are about to attempt.

He cements his status as a “go-to” action guy with his latest, NORMAL (now streaming on HBO MAX), where he plays a former Sheriff who is hired to fill out the final few months of the previous Sheriff’s term in seemingly quiet Normal, MN.

And, of course, things in Normal are far from normal - and “body count” ensues.

It’s a ton of fun and Odenkirk is ably assisted by such “B-List” stars as Lena Headey (GAME OF THRONES) and “The Fonz” himself, Henry Winkler who continues to have a late career renaissance.

Director Ben Wheatley has IMDB credits as a director of such “D-List” action films titled FREE FIRE and KILL LIST and is making the most of being called up to the Majors (or at least the high minors) with this effort, professionally steering the events in NORMAL with a steady hand, never once stopping to pause to think about things and quickly moving over to the next big action set piece.

NORMAL is a ton of fun if you are looking to sink into your couch on a weekend night with a big bowl of popcorn and the drink of your choice.

Letter Grade: B+

7 1/2 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)