Early in the Netflix action flick Extraction 2, handler Nik Khan (Golshifteh Farahani) looks upon the battered body of mercenary Tyler Rake (Chris Hemsworth) and observes, “You fought your way back.” That might sound like a bit of empty exposition, but those who saw the first Extraction know how remarkable Rake’s achievement actually is. Adapted from the Ande Parks comic Cuidad, 2020’s Extraction ended with Rake plummeting into the Ganges after being stabbed and shot. A lot.

But as clear as Nik’s first comment may be, her follow-up is much more baffling. “You just have to find out why,” she continues, the camera holding on her face to make sure everyone understands just how concerned she is.

In its weakest moments, Extraction 2 spends too much time dwelling on the hero’s existential crisis. The first 20 minutes of the movie follow mercenary Rake as he recovers from his...