A Netflix Original Picture, Written by Greg Rucka, Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood.
Netflix have absolutely conquered the TV space, and have produced a few really great movies, but on the whole, their films have been mostly misses.
This is one I was really looking forward to and while I wasn’t disappointed, I also wasn’t thrilled. It is a solid action flick with a great cast, some fun action, and an interesting premise.
However, it falls into the trap of offering a bland story in the first film while massively teasing a much more interesting sequel, which leaves you frustrated that you didn’t get to see that movie in the first place.
Something it should also get credit for is how absolutely unapologetic LGBTQ+ representation, with an openly gay couple at the heart of the crew, and also many hints towards Theron’s character also having a female love interest. It doesn’t make a big deal of it because it is simply another part of who these people are, not the defining aspect.
The whole cast do good work, with Theron the obvious star and KiKi Layne and Matthias Schoenaerts also registering well.
One of the most satisfying things to come out of Hollywood in the last five years is that Charlize Theron is now an unquestionable action star, on the level of people like Keanu Reeves and Tom Cruise (honestly, potentially even better) and I hope she gets to continue that in an ‘Atomic Blonde’ sequel, and even a ‘The Old Guard’ sequel as it sets up something much more interesting than we actually got.
Rating = 3/5
Howe's World of Film and TV 