One of the biggest surprises in recent years is Extraction. A no-nonsense, adrenaline-fuelled action movie about a tough soldier ploughing his way through hundreds of villains to rescue an innocent child kidnapped by a ruthless Indian drug lord. Plot-wise, it’s hardly Inception. But before the purists among you start throwing your popcorn in a rage, let me offer a scathing rejoinder.

The simple, straightforward story of a one-man army became the basis for nearly every classic 1980s action movie. In an era of bland, formulaic CGI superhero movies and politically correct remakes, this is a fresh throwback to a simpler and more enjoyable era of filmmaking. However, the prospect of a sequel was a little worrying, especially now that Hollywood appears to have reached peak Woke. So when Part 2 was released last week, I had a lot of questions. Was I expecting too much? Will it fall victim to its own success in trying to outdo its predecessor? Which of the Hemsworth brothers has the best hair?

Extraction 2 is everything I could ever wish for in an action movie. Stylish, elegant, and beautifully shot with stunning panoramic shots of long action scenes, it is a big improvement over the original film. I’m happy to report that the storyline is kept simple and is not necessarily thought-provoking or challenging. I would ask: Must a film be deep and meaningful to be enjoyable? For this critic, the answer is no. It also keeps clear of political pandering, something many modern writers seem desperate to cram into every movie. When I’m watching the perfectly coiffed Chris Hemsworth (the best-looking Hemsworth) massacre people, I don’t need to know his pronouns. What I want to see are tough, stoic, insanely cool protagonists who inflict outrageous levels of extreme violence on anyone who crosses their path.

Picking up where he left off, Hemsworth plays former Australian Special Forces soldier turned black ops mercenary Tyler Rake. The last time we saw him, he had taken one hell of a beating. How did he recover after being shot and stabbed so many times? I don’t know. The beauty of these movies is that you don’t have to think. After a brief Rocky-style montage, he’s ready for his next adventure. This is just as well, because as soon as he’s styled his hair to perfection, Idris Elba appears needing his help. Tyler’s next mission is to free Elba’s family from a Georgian prison where they’re being held hostage by a mad warlord.

Needless to say, what follows is a euphoric mix of explosions, guns, tonnes of blood, and more explosions, in which Tyler unleashes hell on rioting prisoners and the imposing prison guards, much to the chagrin of the local mafia. Specifically, Zurab, the head of a notorious Georgian crime family, is plotting revenge after Rake murdered his brother. And like Rake, he won’t stop until he gets it. The fights are impeccably choreographed and brutally violent. The on-screen carnage is reminiscent of scenes in The Punisher, in which Jon Bernthal goes insane and slaughters a dozen deranged prisoners in increasingly gruesome ways.

Some of the stunts in this movie are really impressive and imaginative. I don’t want to give too much away, but let’s just say they make the Fast and the Furious franchise look like Bluey.

Like its predecessor, Sisu, Nobody, and The Equaliser, Extraction 2 is one of those Vegemite movies. You either love it or hate it. This is what’s known in movie critic parlance as a cheeseburger movie – it’s not flashy or pretentious, it’s just simple and honest. It gives you exactly what you want and a sense of fulfilment without making you feel guilty afterwards. This is a violent but very enjoyable movie.

What I love about all these films is their stubborn refusal to cater to every conceivable demographic. These are movies aimed at men. Real men with beards and perfectly styled hair. Frenzied from start to finish, this two-hour action flick is a homage to the glory days of 80s action movies, where, as Patrick Swayze demonstrated in Roadhouse, every problem can be solved by kicking or punching someone.

The only downside of these movies is that they’re always self-limiting. There’s only so much you can do; there are only so many limbs that can get severed; there’s only so far you can push the insanity. I always approach these movies with trepidation. But watching John Wick 4 recently, I realised that creativity is only as limited as the inventor’s mind. Extraction 2 is a sharp rebuke to those who mistakenly think that being complex automatically means better. When it comes to pushing the boundaries while giving viewers a riotous and thoroughly enjoyable time, Chris Hemsworth proved it can be done. All while looking seriously cool and badass.

Four punches out of five.

Available on Netflix in select regions.

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