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Valentine’s Day weekend is typically a weekend filled with romance. In theaters this Valentine’s weekend, you’ll find the latest Nicholas Sparks romance, Safe Haven. You’ll find the supernatural teen romance, Beautiful Creatures. And, if you’re not into all that sappy girly stuff, you’ll also find Bruce Willis killing bad guys in A Good Day to Die Hard.
The fifth installment in the popular franchise finds tough guy John McClane (Willis) traveling to Moscow to help his estranged son, Jack (Jai Courtney), who’s doing time in a Russian prison. But it seems that trouble follows McClane wherever he goes—and he arrives in Moscow just in time for all hell to break loose.
During the trial of notorious Russian businessman Yuri Komarov (Sebastian Koch), the courtroom is bombed, and Jack escapes with Komarov in tow. After chasing down his son, McClane learns that Jack isn’t really a screw-up; he’s actually a CIA operative—and he’s on a critical mission. So—never one to back down in the face of danger—McClane joins his son in battle.
The most loyal fans of the Die Hard franchise have already started complaining about the latest installment, grumbling that it’s not as good as the original. But that’s to be expected; it’s the fifth film in the franchise—and it’s being released in February—so it’s just not reasonable to expect a brilliant action movie.
It is reasonable, however, to expect some over-the-top action—and, in that department, A Good Day to Die Hard definitely delivers. The story may be convoluted and confusing (and sometimes even needlessly melodramatic), but the action is pretty clear-cut. It’s filled with explosions and machine guns and colossal car chases. Around every corner, there’s another bad guy, another bomb, another bazooka, another fully-armed chopper. And that’s what makes A Good Day to Die Hard fun to watch: there’s absolutely nothing even remotely realistic about it. It’s just an old-school action movie with unstoppable heroes, overcooked bad guys, and a whole heck of a lot of destruction.
Willis, meanwhile, just adds to the fun. Sure, he’s not getting any younger, but he’s as tough as ever, tossing out sarcastic banter and throwaway one-liners like machine gun shell casings. This aging McClane may have his share of regrets—especially where his kids are concerned—but that doesn’t make him any less bold or brash. In fact, he’s quite possibly the pushiest dad ever (one that will make you a little more thankful for your own dad, who has probably never initiated a high-speed car chase in an attempt to have a conversation with you).
A Good Day to Die Hard isn’t a stellar action movie. You won’t be overwhelmed by its award-worthy acting, nor will you be mesmerized by its ingenious plot. And if you’re a loyal Die Hard fan, it might have you longing for the good old days. But the film’s over-the-top action makes it a ridiculously entertaining adventure.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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