Executive producer and co-writer Luc Besson had already spent a couple of decades turning out serviceable-or-better Eurothrillers made in the model he helped create with films like La Femme Nikita. Not that its content looked particularly novel. Executive producer and co-writer Luc Besson had already spent a couple of decades turning out serviceable-or-better Eurothrillers made in the model he helped create with When Taken hit screens in 2008, it benefitted from the shock of the new. When Taken hit screens in 2008, it benefitted from the shock of the new. I wouldn't say it improves on the original, but is just as good. It's one of those films where you lean forward if you know what I mean. Taken 2 has action, it has suspense and it genuinely delivers a very intense 89 minutes. But to be honest, it's not always a bad thing.
Sure, there's nothing out of the ordinary or new or surprising. The thing about Taken and Taken 2 is how they take a very basic background and make it come to life. No, it's not a Bourne film nor is it trying to be. But make no mistake despite being a carbon copy of just about everything, it still delivers. If someone asked "What is the definition of a standard American movie?" it would be this. No, it's not a Bourne film nor is Cliché, predictable, short and simple.