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==Critical reception==
{{Quote box |quoted=true |bgcolor=#FFFFF0 |salign=center |width=195px |align=right |quote=Between the relentless bloodbath and the thrilling lack of logical consequences, ''Death Race 2'' never fails to astonish and entertain.|source=—'''Debopriyaa Dutta''', '''''[[Slashfilm|/Film]]'''''<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dutta |first1=Debopriyaa |title=The Correct Order To Watch The Death Race Franchise |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/1606105/correct-order-to-watch-death-race-franchise/ |website=[[Slashfilm|/Film]] |date=June 23, 2024 |access-date=June 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240625022110/https://www.slashfilm.com/1606105/correct-order-to-watch-death-race-franchise/ |archive-date=25 June 2024}}</ref>}}
The film received generally favorable reviews upon its release.<ref name="moviehole">{{cite news |last1=Malone |first1=Alicia |author-link=Alicia Malone |title=Exclusive: Death Race 3 revving up! |url=https://moviehole.net/exclusive-death-race-3-revving-up/ |work=Moviehole |location=Australia |date=29 December 2010 |access-date=19 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240619081439/https://moviehole.net/exclusive-death-race-3-revving-up/ |archive-date=19 June 2024 }}</ref> While scoffing at the idea of "prequels to remakes", ''[[Salon.com]]'' insisted it was still "better than it has any right to be".<ref name="calhoun">{{cite web |last1=Calhoun |first1=Bob |title=The "Death Race" prequel that's better than it should be |url=https://www.salon.com/2011/01/22/death_race_2/ |website=[[Salon.com]] |date=22 January 2011 |access-date=19 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240706052947/https://www.salon.com/2011/01/22/death_race_2/ |archive-date=6 July 2024}}</ref> Many reviewers said the film was better than ''Death Race'',{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name="bowles">{{cite news |last1=Bowles |first1=Duncan |title=Death Race 2 review |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/death-race-2-review-2/ |work=[[Den of Geek]] |location=United Kingdom |date=15 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240223060825/https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/death-race-2-review-2/ |archive-date=23 February 2024}}</ref><ref name="orndorf">{{cite news |last1=Orndorf |first1=Brian |title=Death Race 2 - Unrated |url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/46159/death-race-2-blu-ray-dvd-combo-pack/ |work=[[DVD Talk]] |date=18 January 2011 |access-date=19 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110116101910/https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/46159/death-race-2-blu-ray-dvd-combo-pack/ |archive-date=16 January 2011 }}</ref><ref name="barton"/><ref>{{cite news |first1=Bruce |last1=Kirkland |title=Guilty pleasure; Direct-to-DVD prequel Death Race 2 is better than it has any right to be |work=[[The Ottawa Sun]] |page=E2 |location=Canada |date=30 January 2011 |id={{ProQuest|2215579903}}}}</ref><ref name="heavy">{{cite news |last1=Weeks |first1=Isaac |title=Death Race 2 Movie Review |url=https://heavy.com/entertainment/2011/01/death-race-2-movie-review/ |access-date=16 August 2024 |work=[[Heavy.com]] |date=18 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122093229/https://heavy.com/entertainment/2011/01/death-race-2-movie-review/ |archive-date=22 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Dowler |first1=Andrew |title=Death Race 2 |url=http://www.nowtoronto.com/movies/dvdreviews.cfm?content=178755 |access-date=25 August 2024 |work=[[Now (newspaper)|Now]] |issue=1513 |date=January 20–27, 2011 |location=Canada |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111023044542/http://www.nowtoronto.com/movies/dvdreviews.cfm?content=178755 |archive-date=23 October 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>}} with [[Dread Central]] and ''[[IGN]]'' describing it as a worthy prequel that improves upon its Paul W.{{nbsp}}S. Anderson-directed source material.<ref name="barton">{{cite news |last1=Barton |first1=Steve |title=Death Race 2 (Blu-ray / DVD) |url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/reviews/21519/death-race-2-blu-ray-dvd/ |work=[[Dread Central]] |date=22 January 2011 |access-date=19 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240109171359/https://www.dreadcentral.com/reviews/21519/death-race-2-blu-ray-dvd/ |archive-date=9 January 2024}}</ref><ref name="shaffer">{{cite news |last1=Shaffer |first1=R.{{nbsp}}L. |title=Death Race 2 Blu-ray Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/01/19/death-race-2-blu-ray-review |work=[[IGN]] |date=20 January 2011 |access-date=19 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240109171245/https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/01/19/death-race-2-blu-ray-review |archive-date=9 January 2024}}</ref> Contrarily, ''[[Total Film]]'' said the film made his "look like an overlooked [[cult classic]]"<ref name="geary">{{cite magazine |last=Geary |first=Dan |title=Bland Theft Auto |url=https://i.imgur.com/MdaBqbM.png |magazine=[[Total Film]] |issue=176 |page=138 |location=United Kingdom |publisher=[[Future Publishing]] |date=February 2011 |issn=1366-3135 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240714055946/https://imgur.com/MdaBqbM |archive-date=14 July 2024}}</ref> and the ''[[Daily Mirror]]'' found it rather "[b]rimming with guns, girls and growling engines" that car enthusiasts are bound to enjoy it more than a wider audience.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Edwards |first1=David |title=Death Race 2 DVD review: Revved up bid for freedom |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/going-out/film/death-race-2-dvd-review-272425 |website=[[Daily Mirror]] |location=United Kingdom |date=31 December 2010 |access-date=16 July 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240717161334/https://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/going-out/film/death-race-2-dvd-review-272425 |archive-date=17 July 2024}}</ref> "[T]his movie", said the ''[[Winnipeg Free Press]]'', "is no ''Death Race''".<ref name="winnipeg">{{cite news |title=Death Race 2: This Sequel to the Superior 2008 Edition |work=[[Winnipeg Free Press]] |page=E4 |location=Canada |date=20 January 2011 |id={{ProQuest|845331071}}}}</ref> Despite the criticism, the action scenes were singled out by most critics for further praise,<ref name="moviehole"/> with their quality described as "solid"<ref name="calhoun"/> and "nicely staged".<ref name="adams">{{cite news |last1=Adams |first1=Mark |title=Death Race 2 |url=https://www.screendaily.com/death-race-2/5022597.article |work=[[Screen Daily]] |date=21 January 2011 |access-date=19 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240131161253/https://www.screendaily.com/death-race-2/5022597.article |archive-date=31 January 2024}}</ref> Unlike those of "Death Race", the set pieces of its precursor "Death Match" received good reviews: ''[[Den of Geek]]'' found them to be "exhilarating"<ref name="bowles"/> and ''Total Film'' among the film's "guiltily enjoyable moments".<ref name="geary"/> Even so, [[DVD Verdict]] found the film "guilty" of "running on empty" and ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' boring and amateurish; they agreed it was ultimately "a waste of time".<ref name="modell">{{cite news |last1=Modell |first1=Josh |title=Death Race 2 |url=https://www.avclub.com/death-race-2-1798223821 |work=[[The A.V. Club]] |date=January 26, 2011 |access-date=June 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240808141953/https://www.avclub.com/death-race-2-1798223821 |archive-date=8 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=David |title=Death Race 2 (Blu-Ray) |url=http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/deathrace2bluray.php |access-date=17 August 2024 |work=[[DVD Verdict]] |date=17 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110130071528/http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/deathrace2bluray.php |archive-date=30 January 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Other reviewers were more positive, considering it to be an entertaining full-bore action film, notwithstanding issues with the narrative in terms of plot, character, and originality.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name="orndorf"/><ref name="barton"/><ref name="calhoun"/><ref name="strowbridge"/><ref name="weinberg">{{cite news |last1=Weinberg |first1=Scott |title=DVD Review: 'Death Race 2' |url=http://www.fearnet.com/news/reviews/b21377_dvd_review_death_race_2.html |date=7 January 2011 |work=[[Fearnet]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110109101231/http://www.fearnet.com/news/reviews/b21377_dvd_review_death_race_2.html |archive-date=9 January 2011 |access-date=19 June 2024 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="longsdorf">{{cite news |first1=Amy |last1=Longsdorf |title=New on DVD |work=[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]] |page=G10 |date=21 January 2011 |id={{ProQuest|845788688}}}}</ref><ref name="horrornews">{{cite news |last1=Halen |first1=Adrian |title=Film Review: Death Race 2 (aka Death Race: Frankenstein Lives) (2010) |url=https://horrornews.net/26604/film-review-death-race-2-aka-death-race-frankenstein-lives-2010/ |access-date=16 August 2024 |work=HorrorNews.net |date=1 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110105094815/https://horrornews.net/26604/film-review-death-race-2-aka-death-race-frankenstein-lives-2010/ |archive-date=5 January 2011}}</ref>}}
''[[Screen Daily]]'' and ''IGN'' complimented the casting,<ref name="shaffer"/><ref name="adams"/> and most critics singled out the supporting cast for further praise.<ref name="moviehole"/> Luke Goss, known for his works on ''[[Blade II]]'' (2002) and ''[[Hellboy II: The Golden Army]]'' (2008) in supporting roles, was praised as a worthy successor to Jason Statham, with some reviewers considering him to be a well-performing, viable action star.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name="bowles"/><ref name="heavy"/><ref name="adams"/><ref name="horrornews"/>}} ''Total Film'' conceded that he exuded "a skin-crawling, [[Christopher Walken|Walken]]-esque screen presence" in addition to carrying the film "through its more face-palm moments and its videogame [[cut-scene]] narrative",<ref name="geary"/> and [[DVD Talk]] credited him with "supply[ing] the picture with a minuscule sense of personality" in "a thankless role".<ref name="orndorf"/> Danny Trejo, Ving Rhames, and Sean Bean were credited by some with keeping the film entertaining.<ref name="bowles"/><ref name="heavy"/><ref name="weinberg"/> Even so, ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'' said they delivered "[[Overacting|scenery-chewing]] turns",<ref name="longsdorf"/> and ''Screen Daily'' deemed Trejo and Rhames' casting merely [[cameo appearance]]s.<ref name="adams"/> Likewise, ''Den of Geek'' said the film struggled with its treatment of the female characters, in that Tanit Phoenix and Lauren Cohan were made to play Goss' love interest and a "ruthlessly ambitious arch bitch" devoid of emotional depth and dignity; "I think what's more of a shame, though," said they, "is that the female cast wasn't given the same attention as the males."<ref name="bowles"/> ''Total Film'' said the acting was "awful", but that Bean at least "provides welcome respites from all the prison-based dullness".<ref name="geary" /> DVD Talk commented that the goal of the film is to show not acting prowess but bloody violence, guns, and women as sexual objects, citing Cohan's "agonizing, cleavage-popping performance" in a promiscuous role as an example.<ref name="orndorf"/>
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