Old Guy Review: Waltz's Charm Against a Tired Script

This Old Guy review starts with a simple question: can Christoph Waltz carry a familiar hitman comedy on charm alone? Mostly, yes. Simon West's 2024 film is a lightweight action comedy that leans on its lead, and he gives it more life than the script deserves.

Old Guy Review: The Story So Far (No Spoilers)

The Old Guy plot is easy to sum up. Danny Dolinski is a veteran contract killer who has hit a professional and personal dead end. He is sweet on Anata, the sharp-tongued manager of a club he frequents, but he is not getting far.

Then The Company calls. It wants Danny back in the field, though not for a glorious last job. His assignment is to train Wihlborg, a young assassin who is brilliant, cocky and endlessly irritating to a man of Danny's generation. The tagline, "Competition is always a killer," tells you where the film is heading: a generational clash played for laughs and bullets.

It is a well-worn setup, and the film never pretends otherwise. Whether it feels fresh depends on how much you enjoy the mismatched-partners formula.

What Works in Old Guy

The biggest asset is the central dynamic. Pairing a grizzled pro with a smug newcomer gives the film an easy comic engine, and the banter has some bite.

• A strong lead turn: Waltz plays Danny as gruffly charming, a womanising killer with a rusty moral compass and a surprising soft spot.

• British crime flavour: Some viewers will spot a Lock, Stock-style streak of gritty crime comedy, with characters who are vicious one moment and funny the next.

• A brisk runtime: At 93 minutes, the film moves along and rarely overstays its welcome in any single scene.

The action is serviceable. It is not the main draw, but it keeps the film ticking over between the comic set pieces. If you like your hitman films scruffy rather than slick, there is pleasure to be found here.

Old Guy Cast and Performances

The Old Guy cast is led by Christoph Waltz as Danny Dolinski. He is the reason to watch. His dry delivery and sly timing make even weaker lines land, and he sells Danny's weariness without turning him into a cliché.

Cooper Hoffman plays Wihlborg, the prodigy with the attitude. The role asks him to be arrogant and funny at once, and the sparring with Waltz is the film's best material. Lucy Liu appears as Anata, the club manager Danny is chasing, and she brings screen presence to a part that the script does not develop much.

The supporting players include Karishma Navekar as Datta, Desmond Edwards as Ritchie and Ryan McParland as Doug. They fill out the film's criminal world, though none gets much room to make an impression.

Where Old Guy Stumbles

The film is built from tired tropes, and it shows. Audience reactions point to the same problems: the story lacks originality, and the pacing sags in the middle despite the short running time.

The romance is the weakest thread. One viewer felt the love story should have been cut back in favour of a wackier friendship, and it is easy to see why. The chemistry never sparks, and the age gap plays awkwardly rather than charmingly.

The comedy also lands unevenly. Some gags are sharp, while others feel like filler. Fans of the action movie reviews we publish will find the set pieces fairly modest by genre standards.

Is Old Guy Worth Watching?

Old Guy is worth watching if you are a Waltz fan or in the mood for a light, undemanding action comedy. It is not a standout, and the audience score of 5.6/10 on TMDB feels about right.

The film is entertaining in fits and starts, held up by one very good performance. It does not take risks, and the romance drags it down. As a casual evening watch, it does the job; as a must-see, it does not.

The film arrived on 13 December 2024. For background on the production, see the Old Guy page on IMDb. If you enjoy this kind of genre blend, our comedy movie reviews are a good place to look next, and Hellboy: The Crooked Man offers a very different kind of genre fare.

Who Will Enjoy Old Guy

• Christoph Waltz fans who like his sly, sardonic screen persona.

• Viewers who enjoy odd-couple hitman comedies and generational banter.

• Anyone after a short, low-stakes action film for a relaxed night in.