where. With an A-list star and a
globe-trotting narrative, The Old
Guard has the trappings of the
modern tentpole action movie,
but it’s very much straight to video
schlock. Think of a Mission Impossible
movie. Now remove the
jaw-dropping set-pieces of that
franchise and replace them with
blandly rendered shootouts accompanied
by R&B music more
befitting a Fifty Shades sex scene
- that’s what you get here. Swap
out Theron for Lundgren or Van
Damme and The Old Guard begins
to resemble the average mediocre
action flick that disappears
into the VOD void on a weekly
basis. With a post-credits stinger,
it’s clearly designed as a franchise
starter, but it’s hard to imagine too
many viewers clamoring for a sequel,
at least not in this century. •
The Old Guard
2 stars out of 5
Directed by: Gina Prince-Bythewood
Starring: Charlize Theron, Kiki Layne,
Marwan Kenzari, Luca Marinelli,
Harry Melling, Van Veronica Ngo,
Matthias Schoenaerts, Chiwetel Ejiofo
NJ STAGE - ISSUE 73
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