Review: The Old Guard 2

Directed by: Victoria Mahoney

Written by: Greg Rucka & Sarah L. Walker

Starring: Charlize Theron, KiKi Layne, Matthias Schoenaerts, Marwan Kenzari, Luca Marinelli

Rating: [2/5]

Not everything needs a sequel. Even if the original material mined some good residual content that could theoretically allow for some additional story generation. We see this time and time again with The Old Guard 2 falling within this category, where it would have been better served just staying on the shelf and not seeing the light of day, given it does nothing but make me think less of its predecessor. Not the ideal statement a sequel would want in its description. 

Still serving the purpose of protecting humanity, Andy (Charlize Theron) and her group of immortals learn of a new threat before them. They encounter Discord (Uma Thurman), who they learn is the oldest of the immortals, who has her own sinister plan, which includes pulling out one of the immortals sent to a watery imprisonment more than 500 years ago. 

Back in 2020, Gina Prince-Bythewood brought us an intriguing new action film centered on a group of immortals with a purpose of keeping the world safe. They can feel pain and all sorts of emotions; they simply just cannot die. It made for a very entertaining viewing experience with a strong cast. Everything about it worked on its own, and it certainly did not need a sequel. One could see why the producers felt the need to craft one, but given the quality of the product we received here, it proved to be the wrong decision. 

Initially what made The Old Guard so intriguing was the introduction of this world and a group of characters who have known each other for so long, essentially operating as superheroes. This sequel sought to further expand this world, focusing on introducing other immortals that have always been out there but now make their presence known. We go back to the past and see how it will impact the future. We have all of this happening with the knowledge Andy has since lost her immortality, therefore making every encounter she now faces a literal life-or-death situation. Certainly not something she’s grown accustomed to after centuries of the opposite. This concept of these characters losing their immortality becomes quite the focal point throughout this film and is important, lying not only for Andy and her newfound vulnerability but also as the main motivation of the villain involved. It just does not hook or grab you in the same way because of reasons that will be divulged below. 

The inclusion of new characters appears with Discord, a ridiculous name if I may say so; Tuah (Henry Golding), and Quỳnh (Veronica Ngô). Each of them has been around as long as, if not longer than, Andy and adds the wrinkle that this feature sought to justify their experience. The main issue is its utter drabness and complete lack of energy. The first film brought this vibrancy, whereas this one moved with this unbearable lethargy, and it commits the worst sin of them all by the end. I feel like I must spoil the fact that this film does not provide a conclusion but ends with a cliffhanger. An incredible assumption that the quality of this film would warrant yet another to reach a conclusion that no one probably cares for at this point. Decision after decision in this film completely left me aghast at what everyone involved thought they accomplished here. 

The steepness in the drop in quality between these two films makes me even question if I liked the first all that much. Despite the return of the talented cast and the addition of the likes of Uma Thurman, who gets to wield a sword, and Henry Golding, The Old Guard 2 does nothing but massively disappoint. It comes in as a sequel I cannot imagine many asked for and brings forth an absolute nothing burger for us to appreciate. It does not even give the audience the courtesy of some meaningful conclusion to take away. Instead, this feature serves as nothing but set up for a third film I do not want to watch but probably will as a completionist. Truly an aggravating experience with some light sprinkles of some positivity as any film with this level of talent attached to it will inevitably hold.