EXTRACTION 2 (2023) – Impressive action set pieces amidst a brainless plot

This is a follow up to the 2020 Netflix actioner Extraction which introduced us to yet another indestructible action hero, Tyler Rake, a black-market mercenary which specialises in deadly “extraction”. As played by Chris Hemsworth, we get the usual one-dimensional portrayal of a gun blazing hero with a tragic past, that is infallible.

The first movie which was predominantly set in Dhaka, Bangladesh, was not particularly memorable but, despite the generally decent reviews, I found this sequel a noisy and brainless mess. The relentless action set pieces were admittedly impressively staged and the efforts by the film makers to try and be different here is appreciated. But somehow these just did not gel well with a pot-hole ridden plot which I felt rendered the viewers feeling disengaged or caring with what’s happening. This is actually a shame because I can see a lot of effort were put into these scenes. One particular standout scene happens in the earlier part of the film which gives the viewer the illusion of an impossibly long single take that starts of from the ground and on a train, while continuously fighting off the bad guys and shooting down helicopters in the process. Another impressive scene takes place at the dizzy heights of the DC Tower in Vienna, which is the tallest skyscraper in Austria. However, much of the edge and suspense is taken away simply because we know that our hero will never be defeated no matter what the odds were.

Chris Hemsworth is just making a name for himself playing all these similar characters in different movies. At the end of the day, it is difficult to tell the difference between them! The film makers are just as guilty for not making the effort to develop a character that is believable or vulnerable. I think this is not impossible and done brilliantly in the Daniel Craige Bond movies. As it is the Taylor Rake here might as well be Thor for all we care. Thankfully he didn’t have time to utter those dreadful lame one-liner jokes that Marvel super-heroes are so fond of doing.

So what we have here is some great action set pieces, but in an unremarkable thriller. The end result is still a misfire for me.