Charlize Theron once again shows that she is an ass-kicker in this comic book adaptation. Check our The Old Guard review.
Though intriguing and action-packed, the film is a bloated imbalance of heavy storytelling and fight montages that never seem to find a way to coexist.
When a pharmaceutical titan (Harry Melling) sets his sites on harvesting the DNA of centuries-old immortal warriors, they end up in a fight for their freedom and very existence.
Theron is joined my Kiki Layne, Marwan Kenzari, Luca Marinelli, and Matthias Schoenaerts as the mercenaries who become the focus of a widowed husband (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a man who believes the key to helping humanity lies in the immortal group. Trouble is, they’ve seen this all before.
The Old Guard is a fun watch that gets bogged down in odd pacing due to the focus (rightfully) on story. Highlighted by Theron’s performance and top-notch action sequences (which have a killer soundtrack, I might add), the film is a fun watch that leaves the door open for what’s to come.
The story is rather fascinating, though I’m not sure it was efficiently, nor effectively, told.
Where The Old Guard sets itself apart from competitors, however, is the inclusion of LGBTQIA characters in the form of two of the immortal men being in a loving relationship. In a scene that seemed a bit out of place, but delivered nonetheless, one of the captured men gives a great speech about love that transcends gender, orientation, or any other limits.
While I was slightly annoyed at the disgusted reaction of their captors once they kissed, seeing that they took care of them in short order was a pleasant surprise for a story arc that is often destined for background fodder.
Director Gina Prince-Bythewood has left me wanting more from the cast and the world that the film plays in, especially given a subplot that leaves a tantalizing tease at the end.
What I would hope for in a follow-up is a more focused plot that doesn’t rely on 1-on-1 conversations for overall explanation, thus slowing the film down. Throw us a flashback early and lets get on with the action, because oh is it so grand!
The Old Guard Review by Joe from Guy At The Movies
Our Rating
Summary
Strange pacing aside you can look beyond the films flaws and find solace in Charlize Theron taking centre stage and commanding the entire movie.
An absolute powerhouse of an actress who’s treading through the mud of this quite confusing feature constantly flicking between fight sequences and heavy deep storytelling.
