The Movie: If there’s one thing we probably didn’t need, it’s another Die Hard film, but there’s still something undeniably awesome about watching Bruce Willis step back into the role that turned him into an action movie icon. A Good Day to Die Hard finds John McClane (Willis) traveling to Russia, where his estranged son Jack (Jai Courtney) is preparing to go on trial for a laundry list of offenses.
Unbeknownst to McClane, Jack is actually a CIA operative, working undercover to extradite a political prisoner (Sebastian Koch). McClane’s arrival, accompanied by an incredibly inventive car chase with some eye-popping stunts, not only derails Jack’s plan, but also puts Jack and his father on the run from an elite paramilitary force. Cue lots of gunfire, explosions, and one-liners.
It’s a fun ride until the climax, where director John Moore follows a contrived, weakly executed plot twist by spending what appears to be the film’s entire CG budget on a laughably bad helicopter sequence. It’s all just a bit too over-the-top, even for this franchise – yes, we know it’s a Die Hard film, but can’t we just pull back on the reins for once?
- The Good: Plenty of action, including one of the most insane car chases ever filmed. Bruce Willis is still a complete badass as John McClane.
- The Bad: Poor special effects, particularly during the climax. Bad dialogue. Uninspired plot.
- The Verdict: If you’re a fan of the Die Hard franchise, there’s more than enough here to enjoy. If you’re not interested in seeing Willis back in action, this one isn’t for you.