Extraction 2 – Strong Action and Not Much Else

2020’s Extraction was a nice surprise for Netflix, delivering one of the best action films on the streaming platform thanks to well-choregraphed action and a strong lead performance from Chris Hemsworth. In essence, it was just some big, loud, and mindless summer blockbuster type fare that audiences have come to expect to see during the summertime. However, the film was something that could be seen at home rather than in a movie theatre. Nevertheless, it is something that should be seen on a big screen with a great sound system. Based on how the original film went, it didn’t seem like there would be a sequel but (spoiler alert), when a studio finds an IP that they love, they will keep syphoning from it until there’s nothing left. Cue the aptly-named Extraction 2, a film that carries over much of what made the original so successful and takes it to another level. While well-choreographed action is one thing, a 21-minute one take action sequence is another. A highly-publicized element of the film, it is certainly worth the hype though after that dust settles, it is very much more of the same for the most part. It is big, loud, and mindless and in spite of that, it is still entertaining.

Extraction 2 picks up where the first left off as Tyler Rake (Hemsworth) was near death in Bangladesh but was luckily saved by his associates Nik (Farahani) and Yaz Khan (Bessa). That being said, his road to recovery was not going to be an easy one both physically and mentally. Given a second life, Rake needed to figure out what that was. Ultimately, it didn’t take long for former profession to come calling back for a mission that was personal for him. The mission saw he and his team once again venture into dangerous territory in Georgia to rescue the family of imprisoned crime boss Davit Radiani (Tornike Bziava) for whom were trapped in a Georgian prison with him. The circumstances were complicated as Rake and company found themselves in a country which he and his older brother Zurab (Tornike Gogrichiani) had amassed a stranglehold over. Though the odds were certainly stacked against them, they were more than up for that challenge as the film pulls off a harrowing rescue sequence in one take that took the characters in and through a prison then on a train, fighting through countless waves of opposition over the course of 21 straight minutes. The choreography from every element, including dynamic camerawork, fight choreography, and some special effects sprinkled in, that helped put that sequence together was impressive to behold yet it only provided a temporary distraction from the story.

As far as the story was concerned, the rescue was only the beginning. Leaving plenty of destruction in their wake, Rake and his team’s actions were not taken lightly by the Radiani family as they quickly became targets as Zurab looked for revenge following the death of Davit Radiani. But as much it was revenge, it was a hit to he and his family’s reputation. Though they escaped from Davit’s shadow, it still loomed large over his family as they escaped the only life they’ve ever known. That transition proved to be difficult for some as drama within Davit’s family added another grating dimension to the story and to its running time of just over the 2-hour mark. Meanwhile, Rake and company were not done fending off the advances of Zurab and his forces as the large scale action moved to Austria where the outcome made it even more personal for him. As a result, the story would not be complete without a brutal albeit anticlimactic final showdown. At the end of the day, the franchise made its intentions clear at the end of the original film so there’s no reason why things would change here as it sets up another sequel in a more blatant way.

Extraction 2 is merely a few action sequences tied together by a thin and derivative story. Featuring plenty of peaks and valleys, the end result was somewhere in the middle and that will not be for everyone but for those looking to decompress, it will hit the right spot in the moment. As exciting watch, it is as thrilling as it is forgettable. Built on cliches and derivative story beats, there’s not much in the way of depth here. Perhaps not the best showcase of Chris Hemsworth’s range, he made the most out of what he was given, leading the way on charm alone as the brooding Rake. He can handle the demands of action and he definitely did not lose a beat here. The chemistry between he and Farahani and Bessa as Nik and Yaz Khan was another highlight. 

In the end, Extraction 2 has its moments but the only question is whether or not it will be enough.

still courtesy of Netflix

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.