The Old Guard 2 arrives as a direct continuation that tries to expand the universe of the original, but stumbles more than it should. The story maintains a serious and reflective tone, but feels less inspired, more muddled, and filled with scenes that drag rather than push the plot forward. It's not a bad movie, but the excitement sparked by the first film is diluted here, the victim of a narrative that never truly takes off.
The cast remains one of its strongest assets. Charlize Theron commands the screen, and the addition of big names like Thurman or Henry Golding looked promising. Yet the script doesn't give them enough to do. Characters come and go without impact, relationships feel underdeveloped, and conflicts are barely sketched out.
Action scenes, while competent, fall short of the first installment. There’s a lack of tension and creativity. Even the mountain chase—one of the few adrenaline highs—feels isolated in a film that moves on autopilot. The overly solemn tone and absence of humor make the film more self-important than it should be, missing a chance to be lighter and more enjoyable.
There are some interesting ideas about time, the loneliness of immortality, and accumulated guilt, but they get lost in underwhelming subplots and clunky editing. Everything feels done with technical precision, but without soul. As if the filmmakers felt obliged to continue—but without knowing exactly why.
In short, The Old Guard 2 doesn’t insult the audience’s intelligence, but neither does it win them over. Entertaining in parts, but uneven and forgettable. A sequel that makes you appreciate the first one more—and question whether a third is even needed.
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