Tasked with extracting a family who is at the mercy of a Georgian gangster, Tyler Rake infiltrates one of the world's deadliest prisons in order to save them. But when the extraction gets hot, and...
There have been frequent whispers around the bend that with superhero movies finally pissing the bed from overexposing themselves, action movies are poised to make a comeback. If John Wick 4, Sisu and Extraction are of any indication, it’s a statement that might prove fruitful but also potentially be overblown out of proportion.
But “Extraction 2” shows there might be some faint signs of truth for that statement.
Some things remain the same from the first film: an aesthetically decent visual design overall, steady streamlined pacing that earns its runtime and doesn’t over-bloat itself, heavily compact cinematography and camera work with sufficient editing to back it up and an okay, if a little too contemporary, original score. What is vastly different from the original boils down to what it improves from before.
Both the tone and plot structure likens the momentum and on-screen action to third-person shooter gameplay but imbues just enough vulnerability to elevate the script and presentation beyond just a glorified video game that lasts two hours. Production design is fairly straightforward but its simplicity buoys the action that comes, everyone is thoughtful and capable in their respective roles, although Chris Hemsworth continues to impress outside his MCU shackles and similar to Chad Stahelski, Sam Hargraves knowledge of stunt coordination, graphic novel-esque approach to action and emphasis on quieter character driven moments skillfully blends the best parts of both an action and a drama.
Not to mention the action sequences are done competently, executed with a no-fuss virtuosity backed up by top-notch choreography.
While it might be a simple action movie on the surface, picking this story apart makes it harder not to see it as a redemption story, set in a purgatory filled with shadow versions of the hero. We see defective fathers who mistreat, neglect, or warp their children and see them as extensions of their ego or brand showcased front and center at every forefront and guilt over husbandly and parental failure is as much of a driving force for this sequel as the impressive action it packs alongside it. It’s just enough of a narrative crux to set Tyler on his journey, enough to set the parallels between him and the antagonist in motion and enough to justify as many of the events that go down as it will allow.
I especially love how it doesn’t need to over-complicate things anymore than it should: it’s simple and condensed and flows naturally enough to be the plot to not fall apart at the seams. The formula that’s attached to this story remains the same and none of the scenes here feel like complete filler unlike the first movie, which had about two of them.
That being said, issues are still present. While not as hollow as the first film and elevated beyond bread-crumb style progression, the plot still feels rather artificial in a few places. The tone can feel uneven with its gritty undertones undermined by attempted jokes that feel out of place, the use of green screen and digital landscapes are noticeable when they appear, cheapening the overall product in glimpses that feel a bit underwhelming from a technical perspective. And regardless of what I’ve said earlier, this is still pretty predictable and nothing will surprise you.
Also, barely any of the dialogue stands out aside from a few. Not much better than what came before.
Watching both movies back to back makes it easier for me to appreciate what the first film set up and then attempted to expand upon; it’s not a whole lot that’s meant to really impress anybody and it does improve upon some issues just to make room for new ones but the story is a tad bit stronger, the performances are better and I found myself better attached to the characters.
