The Old Guard 2 (2025) - Film Review

      The Old Guard 2, 2025.

      Directed by Victoria Mahoney.

      Featuring Charlize Theron, KiKi Layne, Matthias Schoenaerts, Marwan Kenzari, Luca Marinelli, Veronica Ngo, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Uma Thurman, Henry Golding, Kamil Nozynski, and Slavko Sobin.

      SYNOPSIS:

      Andy leads immortal warriors against a formidable enemy that threatens their group. They struggle with the reemergence of a long-lost immortal, making their mission to protect humanity more complicated.

      The Old Guard 2 may be categorized as a film, but it resembles more of a low-action filler episode from a television series. With Netflix holding the rights to these adaptations, based on the graphic novels by Leandro Fernandez and Greg Rucka (who co-wrote the screenplay here alongside Sarah L. Walker), it's a disheartening indication that for this streaming service, film and TV are essentially the same: producing content that keeps viewers eagerly anticipating more.

      This doesn't imply that The Old Guard 2 offers a satisfying experience, rather it is focused on setting up future developments instead of delivering substantial content in this installment. It's not surprising that Gina Prince-Bythewood did not return for this sequel; there is no solid or engaging story to share. However, there is some merit in the slower pace and the lore-centric approach, which delves deeper into the principles governing the invincible, regenerative abilities of these mercenaries, particularly concerning how these powers can be lost, reclaimed, or transferred.

      Nevertheless, at some stage, the minimal action and focus on some characters, particularly one of the new antagonists, make it evident that none of this will be resolved by the credits. Speaking of which, they rush by so rapidly that it seems Netflix is actively trying to ensure no one notices Gina Prince-Bythewood's absence. This is not intended as criticism of replacement director Victoria Mahoney, especially since the action present is well-choreographed and acknowledges the allure of the creative concepts behind the regenerative abilities. Most crucially, it manages to avoid the poor, CGI-heavy aesthetic that typically affects many streaming films, favoring instead seamless movements, dynamic close-up cinematography, and thrilling stunts to provide the confrontations with a sense of gravity and pain, which is necessary since most of these characters cannot die.

      It becomes clear that this sequel is less about artistic expression and more about capitalizing on a brand that received positive feedback (the initial film debuted at the peak of the pandemic in 2020, allowing for a temporary escape from reality), intentionally dragging the narrative until everything collapses. A considerable part of the story also revolves around reversing dynamics and elements from its predecessor, albeit maintaining some consistency in character growth.

      Now mortal, Andy (Charlize Theron) continues to lead missions with her team, utilizing the newest immortal recruit and former soldier Nile (KiKi Layne) as a protective asset in the field. As always, they are joined by the long-lasting couple Joe (Marwan Kenzari) and Nicky (Luca Marinelli), with the CIA's Copley (Chiwetel Ejiofor) acting as their guide, directing them on where to go and whom to eliminate to create a safer world. It turns out the weapons dealer they seek is someone Nile has been dreaming about, indicating that this person is immortal. Without revealing too much, she is the first immortal, Discord (Uma Thurman), in search of information about their kind from books in an underground library managed by another immortal, Tuah (Henry Golding).

      Much of the plot is diverted towards a different storyline concerning a lost immortal from Andy's past, Quynh (Veronica Ngo), who was teased in the first film's post-credits scene. Centuries ago, they were separated, with Quynh accused of witchcraft, placed in a coffin, and cast into the ocean. Now freed by Discord and furious that Andy stopped looking for her, Quynh desires to make humanity suffer. Ideally, this motivation could seem overly generic, but the torment of being submerged for centuries at the hands of humans, while Andy now does everything in her power to aid them, adds a slightly unique angle.

      Additionally, Booker (Matthias Schoenaerts) returns after betraying the team in the first film, with his treachery receiving a more nuanced exploration, one of the few narrative aspects that functions in this sequel. It opens up discussions about the nature of time and how immortality affects it. While such themes are acknowledged, this sequel ultimately remains a bare-bones effort that does not fully exploit these concepts. One character receives a concluding arc that feels appropriate, but because of the premise and the typical patterns of films, there is no certainty that it will remain intact, as other plot points have already been undone in this sequel.

      Charlize Theron continues to be