Old Guy
February 19th, 2025
MOVIE: OLD GUY
STARRING: CHRISTOPH WALTZ, COOPER HOFFMAN, LUCY LIU
DIRECTED BY: SIMON WEST
AMovieGuy.com’s RATING: 2 STARS (Out of 4)
RATED: R
RUN TIME: 93 MINUTES
Christoph Waltz’s career, despite his two Academy Awards, has often felt incomplete. He became a master at delivering Quentin Tarantino’s sharp dialogue, earning him both accolades and lasting recognition. However, Waltz has struggled to break free from Tarantino’s shadow and truly establish himself outside of those films. In Old Guy, directed by Simon West, Waltz gets the opportunity to prove he’s more than just a one-trick pony. And while he nearly succeeds, the movie ultimately plays like a run-of-the-mill story that any competent actor could have tackled. Old Guy is yet another predictable tale of a hitman on his final job, mentoring a young protégé, with stale humor that’s been done better before.
Just two weeks ago, Love Hurts hit theaters, featuring Ke Huy Quan in a role that attempted to balance charm with ruthlessness. That film faltered on almost every level. Similarly, Old Guy struggles to leave a lasting impression. The action is underwhelming, while co-stars Cooper Hoffman (playing the young assassin) and Lucy Liu (the madame with a heart of gold) are trapped in two-dimensional roles. Even Waltz, typically a force of nature, feels less captivating than expected. It’s not that Waltz should necessarily be the epitome of “cool,” but his character’s implied arrogance and skill should offer more intrigue. Once the initial swagger fades, Old Guy becomes predictable, offering little beyond its tired premise.
The screenplay by Greg Johnson, a relatively new writer with only two credits to his name, doesn’t do the film any favors. The direction by Simon West, known for action-packed films like Con Air, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, and The Expendables 2, feels surprisingly beneath him. This movie lacks the explosive energy that defined his earlier work, and the result is a rather lackluster production.
That said, there are a few redeeming aspects. Lucy Liu delivers a performance that stands out more than her recent roles—it’s certainly better than Red One. And while Old Guy doesn’t entirely live up to the promise of its genre, it’s worth noting that this type of film could have been a perfect vehicle for legends like Steve McQueen, Lee Marvin, or Clint Eastwood. There’s a certain comfort in seeing movies like this attempted, even if the result is not what I had hoped for. Ultimately, Old Guy feels past its prime, a missed opportunity that’s neither fresh nor exciting.
2 STARS
OLD GUY IS PLAYING IN SELECT THEATERS AND AVAILABLE ON DEMAND FRIDAY FEBRUARY 28TH, 2025.
Written by: Leo Brady
