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The Guard (2011)

2011 • 1h 36m • Action, Comedy • R
On September 24, 2026
#6044▼ 260
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All reviews

Reno on The Guard

5/10 · Nov 23, 2016

I’m hesitant to call this film a letdown, but it just didn’t click with me. The same filmmaker behind 'Calvary' was at the helm here, and Brendan Gleeson is in the starring role—though that earlier movie came before this one. I really appreciated that previous work, but I can only describe this as average because I wouldn’t go so far as to say it was poorly made. The subject matter felt familiar, and a lot of time seemed to be spent on drawn-out scenes with narration that brought me down. There wasn't a clear point of view in the storytelling; instead, it focused primarily on a small-town police officer and his solitary existence, with very little actual crime fighting. When an FBI agent arrives searching for international drug traffickers, a local Irish policeman prepares to help the American official, even though he’d rather not get involved. He continues living his life as usual, appreciating every moment. Then, a woman appears requesting assistance in locating her missing police officer husband, and suddenly he's pulled into the action. The film then reveals how much headway he makes with the case and what happens afterward. It wasn’t nearly as humorous as I had hoped. However, it is watchable due to its competent narration. The acting was passable; the characters were rather underdeveloped, especially the antagonists. They pop in and out without a trace, leading up to the final confrontation. There didn't seem to be much connection between them and the cop, particularly regarding what they were fighting for beyond their own motivations. Casting Don Cheadle as the FBI agent felt like a wasted opportunity. For a premise with such potential, the story should have included at least a few unexpected turns and perhaps a large-scale action sequence. It needed an engaging plot, but it fell short in that regard. I’m afraid I can't recommend it, though you may enjoy it more than I did. _5/10_

Source on TMDB