The Old Guard (2020)
The Old Guard features cool action scenes and pretty good performances. All that’s missing is some imagination. Much more that could’ve been done with its premise but the missed potential's not enough for me to discourage you from seeing it.
For centuries, mercenaries Andy (Charlize Theron), Booker (Matthias Schoenaerts), Joe (Marwan Kenzari), and Nicky (Luca Marinelli) have helped those they could. As immortals who heal from any wound, they jump into conflict until they realize someone has learned their secret. This couldn’t have come at a worse time. They’ve just discovered another like them, an American marine named Nile Freeman (Kiki Layne).
All of these movies with immortals and still, we hear the same old song. “There’s no point loving anyone because you’ll outlive them”. “The world has stopped caring, so have I.” “The world/people never change.” You'd think Andy would be a little less grim. She’s literally lived through the emancipation of slaves, and the women’s suffragette movement. Despite having three friends to hang out with - immortal friends she CAN form a lasting bond with - she's wallowing in her misery. You could do so much with the time they've been given but all they’ve learned to do is kill people more efficiently. You’d think at least one of them would’ve squirreled away enough money to cure cancer or solve world hunger by now but this is not that kind of movie. It’s about not one, but FOUR Wolverines mowing their way through legions of baddies until they have a kill count higher than WWII. Fair enough. Charlize Theron is more than capable of delivering when it comes to stunts.
To give the movie credit, there are some innovations here and there. The quartet are immortal but still feel pain. They know first-hand there are things far worse than death. Such a fate may await them. With the help of former CIA operative Copley (Chiwetel Ejiofor), pharmaceutical executive Steven Merrick (Harry Melling) is getting dangerously close to the group. Bad news for them. Either he has the best benefits package of any company in the history of ever, or he’s turned his staff into fanatics. No one bats an eye when they’re told they’ll be vivisecting people alive - without anesthetics. Even when faced with piles of dead co-workers, his goons eagerly jump into the fray. I know we’re not supposed to think about it too much. They’re just supposed to be blocks our heroes dispatch in creative ways but can’t we have cool action and a smart story?
Try not to focus too much on the missed opportunities. There’s good stuff here. For instance, two of the 5 immortals are in a gay relationship. It’s treated like it’s no big deal but it will be to certain audiences, particularly if this spawns a franchise. Marwan Kenzari and Luca Marinelli have good chemistry. Their characters’ love makes you care about them. And then they get to pay their assailants back with violence. That’s pretty cool. (September 24, 2020)
