You won’t soon forget this bizarre whisky scene in Normal

Sometimes you get films where whisky lingers subtly in the background. Normal, now in theaters, is not one of those. We’re talking bourbon, Irish whiskey, and above all, one hilariously bizarre scene.

Right now, Normal is playing in cinemas, a neo-Western starring Bob Odenkirk. He becomes a temporary sheriff in a quiet town, hoping for a peaceful stint. But nothing could be further from the truth, as it becomes clear that something’s off in this place. Anything but “normal,” in other words. It’s from the makers of John Wick, so you know exactly what you’re in for.

A fun touch: within the first hour you see a room crammed with whisky bottles, setting the stage for an interesting exchange between two characters. One says he’s a bourbon drinker, while the other prefers Irish whiskey. As film dialogue it’s nice, if not exactly earth-shattering. For enthusiasts, though, the cabinet is a treat, stacked with everything from Scotch to Irish to American.

The real surprise comes when Officer Ulysses Richardson, played by Bob Odenkirk, pulls over a young woman: Alex, portrayed by Jess McLeod. It looks like your standard movie setup. Suspicious driving, and as a viewer you’re bracing for a sobriety test.

Alex looks nervous as she rolls down her window. She knows she’s been drinking. You expect a confrontation, but something entirely different happens.

Those are the officer’s words.

What follows is anything but standard and very funny. Ulysses gets into the car and the two of them share bourbon. Then he notices she had a gun on her lap in case things went south. An officer eager to have a drink was not what she had in mind.

The scene is awkward and, in a way, absurd. But it’s also incredibly funny.

When he eventually arrests her anyway saying, “I’ve got a good place to sleep”. He adds that he’ll be at his desk down the road: sleeping or drinking. Ha.

What makes this scene so powerful is how it sets the tone for everything that follows. From this moment on, you know the film isn’t going to play by the rules. What seemed like a straightforward story spirals into something else entirely: a hard-hitting action film laced with humor.

Want more films featuring whisky? Check our roundup.