Odd Thomas

Refreshing blend of supernatural mystery and superhero movies. One review here I read seemed to think less of the movie because it didn't follow the familiar formula of an angst-ridden young hero with lots of problems; an emo kid who is hated by all and longs for a girl he can never have. The same old tired Spider-Man knock-off stuff, in other words. I, for one, enjoyed the freshness of this movie. Here we have a character who deals not only with having a supernatural gift but also deals with death daily. He sees things no one should see. In 99.9% of stories written about anything even in this ballpark, the lead character would be wracked with self-pity and guilt, would have no stable relationships, and would have no sense of humor unless it was dipped in bitterness. He would also seldom bathe.

By contrast, Odd Thomas is a likable popular guy with a beautiful, understanding girlfriend, a friendly relationship with a sympathetic police captain, and a healthy attitude about doing good things with his gift. Anton Yelchin as Odd and Addison Timlin as his girlfriend Stormy are perfectly cast. They have sparkling chemistry and the loving banter between the two of them is the movie's strongest point. Willem Dafoe plays slightly against type as the fatherly police captain but it's a great fit for him. The stunning Gugu Mbatha-Raw has a small but important role as a friend of Odd & Stormy's.

The writing is crisp with some fun dialogue. The characters are written and acted well. The movie moves at a good pace and never leaves you bored. My only criticisms would be some slightly obvious plot twists, especially where one villain is concerned, and a mildly dissatisfying ending. Still, it's an enjoyable movie with a little bit of action and effects that is driven by character. It's miles above any of the other young adult-oriented sci-fi/supernatural movies I've seen in recent years.

Firstly, I am a huge Koontz fan and a huge Odd Thomas fan. I've been waiting years for this movie so my expectations were pretty high. I'm sure that figures into my analysis of the movie, as I have been largely let down by adaptations from novels in the past. That being said...

Overall, good movie, good adaptation. Moving a story from a book to a movie always presents problems; always there will be portions of the story and significant nuances left out. This is no exception. The casting of Odd was very good. Yelchin did a fantastic job capturing the strong albeit naive nature of Odd. I was skeptical about Timlin as Stormy, but she not only pulled it off but, in my mind, perfectly captured Stormy. I will no longer be able to think of Stormy without seeing her face. I wish we could have seen more interaction between Odd and Ozzie; in the books this is a very important relationship for Odd. Also, in the books, Ozzie is 350 or so pounds and Oswalt is considerably smaller. That being said, I think his size in the books is more of a testament to his larger-than-life character and less about his physical size, which I believe, given the chance, Oswalt would have perfectly captured. He is a largely underrated actor.

As for the story, it sticks to the book even though there are a few things left out. It would have been nice to know more of Odd's background but it would have unnecessarily stretched the movie out. Well told, with appropriate use of flashbacks, and good use (and not overuse) of narration, just as in the books. One thing I really enjoy about Odd Thomas books is the quick-paced, quick-whited dialogue. I've rarely read another author that could match Koontz in this aspect. This was transferred to the big screen very well.

As I said, I've been waiting for this movie for a while and whereas I wish they'd done it as an eight hour miniseries and captured every nuance of the book, this was a superb adaptation and an excellent movie. I really hope they make more because Odd's adventures keep getting better.

8 of 10

One of director Stephen Sommers' better films, "Odd Thomas" stars Anton Yelchin as Odd Thomas, a young man who is able to see and communicate with the dead. Structured as a detective movie, the film watches as Odd attempts to both solve crimes and prevent a horrific massacre.

"Odd Thomas" was based on a novel by super-hack Dean Koontz. Embodying all the endearing qualities of the author (a young hero who saves the day, an apocalyptic threat which only our hero knows of, likable small-towners, light comedy, super powers, romance, a dose of optimism etc) and quickly skipping over his unappealing ones, the film embraces its B movie roots. At times it recalls the teen oriented science fiction adventures of the 1980s. At other times, Sommers' direction is cringe-worthy; the pathetic attempts of a fifty year old man to dazzle young audiences born with ADD and raised by X-BOX.

"Odd Thomas" features Willem Dafoe in a small role. Addison Timlin co-stars as gratuitous eye-candy. Yelchin is good in the lead role, and makes for a far more interesting leading man than most actors.

7.5/10 - Worth one viewing.

Anton Yelchin is a very likable performer and Odd Thomas cashes in on his screen personality in spades. Stephen Sommers, who's been away from the directors chair for way too long, pens a witty and fresh screenplay that zips along and keeps the audience thoroughly entertained every step of the way.

The one liners are spouted fast and furiously, the dialogue sparkles and there are plot twists and turns a plenty. The film defies being classified into any one genre. It's a little horror, a little fantasy, a little science fiction and a little mystery, none of it boring or expositional.

It's also great to see Dafoe doing a little mainstream fluff piece for a change. But just as you think you know exactly where this film is going, it surprises you yet again and takes a U-turn in another direction. I realise the target market here are probably teens, but I must confess that I loved it.

A very solid 7 out of 10.

I will start with a recommendation: "go watch it". This movie is definitely worth seeing. I did not red the book , and this movie truly surprised me. The movie unfolds very dynamically. It is not a slow paced movie for sure. The story is also very interesting containing just enough elements to surprise and entertain at the same time. The ending is also done very nicely. The effects are not the best ever seen , but sufficient. The acting was also very good. I admit some of the characters felt a bit dull , not really believable. In a nutshell , go watch it and be amazed how good a movie can turn out even if you never heard of it.