“The Old Guard” with Charlize Theron — a potential franchise or a passable action movie?

On July 10, the long-awaited action film starring Charlize Theron titled “The Old Guard” premiered on the Netflix streaming platform.

How justified are the ambitions of Gina Prince-Bythewood’s film to become a superhero blockbuster, does the movie have a chance to become a new franchise, and is it worth your time — you’ll find answers to these questions in our review today.

Trivial Plot

At the center of “The Old Guard” is a group of unkillable warriors led by Andy (Charlize Theron), who have been fighting for what they believe is right for centuries. This time, they aim to deal with terrorists and save hostages, but instead find themselves in a trap set to obtain proof of their immortality. Meanwhile, a new member of their kind appears in the world, who must be hidden from the government and the public at all costs.

At first glance, the story in “The Old Guard” might seem at least intriguing. In reality, despite the abundance of decorative elements (like the characters’ invincibility), the script is extremely simple: there’s a group of good guys, an antagonist with a primitive motivation, and an obvious conflict.

At the same time, I don’t want to criticize the film for its derivative plot because it’s presented quite confidently. There are minimal stupidities in the characters’ actions, dialogues appropriate for the genre, a normal pace of events, and a fitting setup for a potential sequel. Gina Prince-Bythewood originally envisioned a trilogy, with “The Old Guard” being just the beginning of Andromache and her comrades’ deadly adventures.

The franchise ambitions are quite appropriate because the film immediately shot to the top of Netflix and will likely stay there for a long time, as no other major premieres are expected soon. The groundwork for a sequel is solidly laid — a coherent setting exists, the lore is described in sufficient detail, and a potential antagonist is introduced carefully and appropriately. You can bet that a sequel (or sequels) will happen!

Brutality and Uncompromising Nature

High-quality and brutal action has recently become a hallmark of Netflix action films. These characteristics applied to the recent “Extraction,” and the same can be said about “The Old Guard.” The theme of the main characters’ immortality practically obliges the creators to repeatedly play it out in various ways (just look at the fight scene on the plane between Theron’s character and the new immortal).

What’s valuable is that the creators don’t overindulge in action, showing it in portions without boring the viewer too much, but also without letting them get bored.

Should You Watch “The Old Guard”?

If you’ve been missing old-fashioned (simple but energetic) action movies, if you like how Charlize Theron looks with an axe in her hands, if you can overlook some script flaws, then “The Old Guard” can give you a lot of positive emotions. It’s a dynamic and not-too-stupid film with interesting characters, heartfelt conversations, and brutal action.

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