Buckle up for an electrifying follow-up to the heart-pounding Chris Hemsworth Netflix blockbuster, “Extraction 2.” This cinematic thrill ride will have you on the edge of your seat, questioning the limits of human endurance. Brace yourself for bone-crushing action and a storyline that packs a punch.
When we last encountered Tyler Rake, the expert extraction specialist with a penchant for saving people from impossible situations, he was battered and beaten, freefalling into a seemingly watery demise from a towering bridge. But don’t worry if you’ve forgotten the details; the opening moments of “Extraction 2: The Dentist Will See You Now” kindly refresh our memories with a recap. And fear not, Tyler’s pearly whites remain intact.
The original movie left us with a tantalizing glimpse of Tyler’s survival as he appeared in the distance, signaling a surprising twist. However, the new installment shakes things up by retconning that scene. Instead, we find Tyler washed ashore, not long after his plunge from the bridge, and subsequently airlifted to safety. After some time to recover in a hospital, he retreats to a secluded cabin nestled in the Australian wilderness.
Tyler’s quiet existence is abruptly disrupted when the charismatic Idris Elba enters the scene, playing a high-end recruiter determined to entice Tyler back into the dangerous world of extractions. It’s clear that Tyler will eventually cave in to the allure of one final mission. But first, we must go through the motions of resistance: “Tell whoever sent you that I’m not interested,” Tyler dismissively declares. But let’s face it, we all know he’s hooked.
This time, the extraction target is Tyler’s sister-in-law and her two children, confined to a Georgian prison while her husband, a ruthless drug lord, runs a billion-dollar empire alongside his equally brutal brother. The husband insists on keeping his family close, even in such an unforgiving environment. Determined to provide her kids with a better life, Tyler’s sister-in-law secretly plans their escape, calling for Tyler’s unique set of skills.
“Job starts in six weeks,” boasts Elba’s enigmatic character. “If everything goes smoothly and you manage to avoid getting caught or shot in the face, I’ll meet you on the other side and give you a kiss. If not, it’s been a pleasure.” And so, the training montage begins, with Tyler honing his skills by stacking rocks and wielding an axe.
With his muscles bulging and his team armed to the teeth, Tyler embarks on a daring mission titled “Prison Break: Georgia.” As he arrives at the prison grounds, a single guitar chord heralds his presence. But chaos erupts almost immediately, thrusting Tyler into a one-man battle against overwhelming odds. Picture this: Tyler throwing punches while his fists are ablaze, setting the stage for a tantalizing concept: “Extraction 3: Fists of Fire.”
The prison sequence captivates with its intensity. At one point, Tyler sustains a vicious blow to the head, momentarily silencing all sound except for a faint buzzing caused by the concussion. But nothing can deter him. Is this the testosterone-infused equivalent of “nevertheless, she persisted”?
Despite being based on a graphic novel, both movies possess the aura of a first-person shooter video game. Hemsworth’s commanding physical presence does much of the heavy lifting, both figuratively and literally, but Tyler is less a fully fleshed-out character and more an embodiment of
action. He’s driven by the allure of money and a sense of duty, but his personality remains elusive. The flat pseudo-witticisms sprinkled throughout the script hardly register as banter. “These men are killers,” he’s warned. His response? “Yeah? So am I.” This rhetorical exchange becomes a recurring theme. When a villain threatens, “I’m going to enjoy killing you,” Tyler retorts, “Yeah? Get in line.” Oh, did I mention he’s multilingual? “Since when do you speak Georgian?” “Since always.”
“Extraction 2,” penned by Joe Russo (who co-wrote the original), boasts dialogue that consists of roughly half “argggghs” (an aria of sorts) and half hastily crafted exchanges. Director Sam Hargrave knows how to orchestrate heart-pounding action but lacks a certain finesse for humor. Nevertheless, pockets of levity find their way into the film, including Hargrave’s own fleeting appearance as a gravedigger—a silent, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it homage to “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.”
More homage than original creation, “Extraction 2” amalgamates elements from various movies. A visually stunning car chase, designed to appear as a single continuous take, pays homage to a memorable scene from “Children of Men.” Later, Tyler finds himself precariously hanging from a beam atop a skyscraper, reminiscent of Ethan Hunt in “Mission: Impossible.” Mid-dangle, he endures a gunshot wound through the back of his hand—ouch!—yet never relinquishes his grip. A gunshot wound turned stigmata, a subtle touch indeed.
At the hour-twenty mark, you might find yourself contemplating whether there are still 30 minutes to go. Well, brace yourself because there are. Perhaps it’s time for another batch of popcorn. The movie’s symphony of thwacks, pings, and gunfire sound effects likely rivaled Hemsworth’s salary. And the climax, a blunt and violent showdown, unfolds from an overhead perspective as Tyler silences his nemesis permanently. Side-by-side, they lie on a church floor, engulfed in a chilling pool of their own blood.
Weeks after its Netflix debut, the original “Extraction” earned the title of the streaming platform’s most-watched original movie. While it remains to be seen if the sequel can surpass that feat, there’s no reason why it shouldn’t. In fact, “Extraction 2” might just outshine its predecessor. And although Tyler never utters the iconic words “I’ll be back” (borrowed from yet another cinematic classic), there’s no doubt that more gripping adventures await in his future.