The Old Guard 2 on Netflix: Star Power Shines, But Action and Story Fall Flat
Netflix just dropped The Old Guard 2, the much-anticipated sequel to the action-fantasy hit from 2020. If you were hoping for another dose of gritty, immortal heroics with Charlize Theron in the lead, you might want to manage your expectations. This time around, the movie gets only one thing truly right—its star-studded line-up of female action icons. Everything else? Well, let’s just say it’s a step down from the original.
- Overview of The Old Guard 2’s main strengths and weaknesses
- Focus on the cast and their action film backgrounds
- Analysis of the film’s plot and character development
- Details on new characters and returning favorites
- Impressions on action scenes and overall production quality
The Old Guard 2: Only the Cast Shines
Let’s start with the good news. The Old Guard 2 brings together an impressive group of action heroines. You’ve got Charlize Theron (Andy) back in the lead, joined by Veronica Ngô (Quỳnh from The Creator and Furie) and Uma Thurman (as the mysterious Discord). While none of them are strictly action-only stars, their collective filmographies—from Mad Max: Fury Road to Kill Bill—are enough to make any action fan sit up and take notice.
It’s worth noting that even Charlize Theron has found her way into the Fast and Furious franchise, proving her action credentials. The sequel brings in new faces like Henry Golding as Tuah, who warns Andy about both Discord and the newly freed Quỳnh. Discord, by the way, is not related to the My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic villain of the same name—sorry, pony fans!
Plot That Loops, Not Leaps
Unfortunately, the movie’s plot doesn’t keep up with its cast. The story picks up with Andy realizing her immortality is fading, but still choosing to fight alongside her friends. The team includes Nile (Kiki Layne), Joe (Marwan Kenzari), Nicky (Luca Marinelli), and mortal tech guy James (Chiwetel Ejiofor). After a lukewarm opening action scene, Andy gets a warning from Tuah about looming threats, but the movie quickly bogs down in endless conversations and old grudges.
A big part of the movie focuses on Andy’s complicated relationship with Quỳnh. Are they lovers, best friends, or something else? The film never really clarifies, making things awkward, especially compared to the sweet romance between Joe and Nicky. At one point, Quỳnh says, “You couldn’t even find me in one small area of the ocean,” a line that’s almost funny—if only it were meant to be.
Action? More Like Inaction
When it comes to action, The Old Guard 2 sadly doesn’t deliver. There’s a single standout fight between Andy and Quỳnh, but most of the action sequences are underwhelming. The first car stunt is let down by clumsy editing and average effects. The movie’s overall look is drab, with lots of generic catwalks and forgettable henchmen. The soundtrack doesn’t help either, sounding more like a demo than a finished score.
The dialogue often misses the mark, with lines like, “I’m scared of what she’s capable of, and so should you,” leaving viewers scratching their heads. Most of the movie is spent on characters moping or arguing, rather than actually doing anything interesting with their immortality.
Is It Worth Watching?
To be fair, some of these issues were present in the first Old Guard movie, but the sequel looks and feels even cheaper. The new mythology twist just adds confusion, and the shorter runtime doesn’t help—it feels like the story just stops rather than ends. The biggest disappointment is that this amazing cast of action stars spends most of their time looking miserable instead of kicking butt.
The Old Guard 2 is streaming on Netflix now. If you’re a fan of the cast, it might be worth a look, but don’t expect it to live up to the original.
