In a manner that’s akin to last year’s Top Gun: Maverick, Extraction 2 allays my worry that Hollywood is losing the ability to produce old school action movie thrills. Sure, 2023 has already given us John Wick: Chapter 4, an irrefutable action masterpiece, but also one that’s thoroughly contemporary in its choreography and craft. Extraction 2, on the other hand, finds ways to remind me of both Arnie flicks of the 80s & 90s and of newer, more VFX-driven offerings. That’s quite a feat, and if you’re an action buff like me, you know it’s also quite a compliment.

Extraction 2 picks up during the first movie’s finale, as a seemingly mortally wounded Tyler Rake (Chris Hemsworth) falls into a murky river in Bangladesh. Fished out by his colleagues, Rake is airlifted to a hospital, where he miraculously pulls through. Meanwhile, his ex-wife’s sister, Ketevan (Tinatin Dalakishvili), and her two children are languishing away in a Georgian prison (the country; not the state). She’s imprisoned with her abusive husband, Davit (Tornike Bziava), who runs a billion-dollar criminal empire with his brother, Zurab (Tornike Gogrichiani). When a mysterious stranger approaches a mostly recovered Rake and informs him of the need to rescue Ketevan and her children, he quickly agrees. After recruiting a team that includes his handler Nik (Golshifteh Farahani) and her brother Yaz (Adam Bessa), Rake sets off for Georgia. It’s not long until shots are fired and things spiral into carnage.

What made Extraction an instant hit was its hard-hitting and ingenious action sequences. They weren’t necessarily on John Wick’s level, but they were good enough that one could confidently say that Netflix had a similar action franchise on its hands. When I’ve talked to people about that movie, they often bring up the one-take, which was undoubtedly impressive. Nevertheless, amazingly, the one-shot in Extraction 2 trounces that one. It begins with Rake liberating the family from their cell, before events quickly devolve into a full-blown riot. Rake shoots, stabs, slashes, and punches – sometimes with fire – his way through the prison yard. This scene is like the muddy prison fight from The Raid 2, but even better. The one-shot continues, evolving into a car chase that sees Rake, Nik, and Yaz stave off hordes of Zurab’s men in cars and on motorcycles. It ends on a train that’s steaming through icy countryside, as more of Zurab’s goons assault it with helicopters. This entire 20+ minute sequence is balls-to-the-wall violent and entertaining, and yet, it’s somehow not even the best one in the film.

When the action in Extraction 2 falters, it’s generally because the VFX fails to be convincing. As good as the one-shot is, there are a few moments in its latter half, especially during the car chase, when things get a little video game-ish. That’s not the case with the movie’s second helping of bullets and bloodshed, which takes place in and around a skyscraper in Vienna. It was this set piece that most reminded me of action movies of the past, though with a bit of modern flare. Zurab’s heavily armed and armored assault team attack from above and below, forcing Rake and Co. into a desperate shootout. Fans of the genre will be jumping with joy when they spot blank shell casings spewing from machine guns and pistols, a sight rarer and rarer these days. Or at least, I think they were blanks. If not, then this is the best gun VFX ever put to screen. Either way, this battle was like something you’d see in a Die Hard movie, showcasing practical effects but with the added bonus of modern extravagance and technology. And for those who prefer something a bit more 21st century, there’s a dash of pew-pew-splat-splat gun fu in there as well.*

So, yes, the action is top-notch, but what about the story and characters? After all, the first Extraction was pretty underdone in those areas, although the rapport between Rake and the boy was endearing. Well, story-wise there might be even less going on in Extraction 2, but what little there is did get my attention. I appreciated some of the backstory that helped illuminate why and how the Daviani brothers (Davit & Zurab) became the hardened killers they are, showing that they’re a product of circumstance rather than evil for the hell of it. This extra bit of color makes the movie’s villains seem more realistic and intimidating, especially compared to those in the first film. Zurab is an especially well acted and written antagonist. I have to give screenwriter Joe Russo credit; he finally gave real care to the bad guys, and it paid off.

Sadly, the same can’t be said for the good guys. Yes, Chris Hemsworth is outstanding as Tyler Rake, at least within the confines of the limited material he’s given. In Extraction 2’s few scenes that expand his backstory, Hemsworth flashes his acting chops and collects even more good will from the viewers. Nonetheless, Rake continues to be an anomaly of a hero, one who’s primary traits remain sternness and guilt. In truth, he’s kind of a buzzkill, and it’s only when paired with Yaz that we see a flicker of his personality. Don’t get me wrong, Rake is a solid character, but his full potential is far from unlocked.

Since I just mentioned Yaz, I want to offer some praise to Adam Bessa, who brings a lot in a somewhat limited role. Bessa struck me as an actor on the rise when he did Mosul for Netflix in 2019, and he did nothing to dissuade me of that notion in Extraction 2. His character, Yaz, comes off as humorous and spirited, making him a good foil to Rake and Nik. Speaking of Nik, she has a lot more to do in Extraction 2, which is certainly welcome since Golshifteh Farahani is a talented actress. However, like Rake, there’s still much work to be done to optimize her character. As for the Ketevan and her two kids, they’re merely passable. Tinatin Dalakishvili is believable as a tough young mother, so I liked her character. Her infant daughter is cute, and her teenage son is annoying, but in a true-to-life way. That said, since there are three people in need of rescue in this movie, there’s inadequate time for Rake to form a meaningful connection with any of them. I much preferred the one-to-one bond formed in the first film.

I have a few more nitpicks in regard to the story and characters, but I’m coming to realize that they’re so insignificant when juxtaposed with how riveting the set pieces are. At the end of the day, like with John Wick, the action is 90% of this film’s appeal. Therefore, by that standard, Extraction 2 is an excellent action movie and a big achievement for Netflix. It’s an even bigger achievement for director Sam Hargrave, who continues to improve, and for Hemsworth, the supporting cast, stuntmen, choreographers, cinematographers, and remaining crew. Now, if only they could extract a bit more creativity when drawing up characters and storylines… Well, there’s always Extraction 3 for that.

If I had to score it, I’d give Extraction 2 an 8/10.

Notes:

* I could keep raving about the action scenes, so I’ll finish doing so here. The final sequence, despite being shorter and smaller in scale, was really well done, having this highly personal feeling to it. I especially enjoyed when Rake used a grenade launcher to blow up a plane. The blending of VFX and practical explosives was superb there, causing me to vocalize my approval. And the following hand-to-hand showdown was crunchy in the best of ways. Bravo.