THE OLD GUARD 2 -- Nothing Last Forever

Review by Jonathan Berk

Five years ago, Netflix dropped The Old Guard, and it was exactly what the pandemic needed. It was pure escapism with chaotic comicbook action, directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood and starring Charlize Theron, KiKi Layne, and Chiwetel Ejiofor, among others. Five years later, the core cast returns for The Old Guard 2 — but this time, they are joined by Uma Thurman,  and Victoria Mahoney steps in to direct. It is Mahoney’s first feature film since Yelling to the Sky (2011), and her first action movie. Five years is a long time to wait for a direct sequel, and this one doesn’t quite reignite the joy the first film brought audiences during those dark times. That’s not to say it’s bad, but it’s not quite as impactful.

Andy (Charlize Theron) and her team of immortal warriors have renewed their passion to protect the world. With Booker (Matthias Schoenaerts) — surely you still remember then entire team after waiting five years — still in exile after his betrayal, and Quynh (Veronica Ngô) out for revenge after escaping her underwater prison, Andy grapples with her newfound mortality…again…(a detail surely you remember like it was yesterday) as a mysterious threat emerges which could jeopardize everything she’s worked towards for thousands of years. Both new alliances and old must be forged if the team is to overcome the obstacles placed before them.

​Of course, the biggest obstacle that Mahoney has to overcome is the sheer amount of lore this property asks of its viewers to process and recall. There are many rules in this world, and if you haven’t seen the first film since it debuted on Netflix during the pandemic, then there is a good chance you’ll be scratching your head trying to remember it all. This movie attempts to bring you up to speed with what happened while introducing the relevant details for the continued adventures of this immortal squad, but it struggles to find the right balance. What it has going for it, however, is that the premise and setting for the story are inherently compelling. Additionally, Theron simply demands you pay attention.

 If you’re here for the cast, then you will likely be satisfied. Theron and Ejiofor are always going to yield something worth watching when they are cast in nearly any role. Layne is committed to her performance and stands toe-to-toe with the bigger names around her. Thurman is underutilized, but very solid. I truly appreciated the nod to some of her other iconic roles with her character in this one.  Ngô gets more to do in this film, but I honestly didn’t remember her much from the first. 

The rest of the returning cast takes a little longer to remind me that I liked them in the first film, as they just aren’t as recognizable. The other significant addition to this film is Henry Golding, who I just can’t help but keep rooting for, as his charm and presence are undeniable. He is solid here, but, like Thurman, is slightly underused. 

The cast isn’t quite enough to push this movie over the edge and return it to the heights of the first. There is enough action present, and a good use of the Immortal's abilities is showcased throughout. However, the noticeably lower budget and difference in the director’s style hurt the overall product a bit. Fortunately, the performances and the drama between the characters with an extensive history are compelling, especially within the fantastical world.

Yet, this film still manages to suffer from a franchise folly that has been the bane of many comic book movies: they forgot to tell a complete, satisfying story. Instead, this film is more concerned with setting up the next entry and expanding the world-building rather than focusing on creating a solid, single-serving movie. 

Overall, The Old Guard 2 isn’t able to live up to the original. However, it doesn’t overstay its welcome, and delivers enough of what worked in the first film to scratch the residual itch some audiences may have had. Of course, it’s also possible that, much like masking in public, this franchise is a forgotten relic of the pandemic. I found it overall to be watchable, and not as bad as many other forced sequels have been. 

The Old Guard 2 is streaming on Netflix on July 2. 

Rating: 2.5/5

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