Time to Get a New Plan

Recently saw Mad Max (the original) for the first time. I know I'm not here to debate technical aspects of the production, but will somebody please re-score that baby?

Ahem. I think, in brief, the story of Mad Max works. Cop kills gang leader, gang pursues cop and family, gang kills cop's family, cop gets "mad" and exacts revenge. You can see how the acts break down, and it seems pretty tight, right?

But let's look at the story a little more closely: cop kills gang member; cop's partner is injured by gang; cop decides to take a holiday with family; cop and family are spotted by gang; cop and family barely get away from gang; gang pursues; cop and family continue with their holiday; cop and family are separated; gang kills cop's wife and baby; cop gets very angry and hunts down and kills every single gang member.

For me, this train goes off the rails at "cop and family continue with their holiday". Whaaat?! Max doesn't get mad after witnessing his family barely survive their first scrape with post-apocalyptic meanies, he just figures he'll keep a closer eye on them? It's simple, really: when the story throws life-changing events at the protagonist, the protagonist must respond. He has to change tack, get going, step up to the plate, get a new plan. He has to do something different. It doesn't have to be the right thing... just reflective of his understanding that the old ways of dealing with things aren't going to cut it.

Get the hell out of that Ordinary World, wouldja, Max?