Rapid Review: Die Hard 2 (1990)

“Another basement, another elevator. How can the same shit happen to the same guy twice?”
– John McClane

SYNOPSIS: John McClane attempts to avert disaster as rogue military officials seize control of Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C. – via IMDB

Well, here we are, at it again. John McClane lives in the wrong place, wrong time scenario forevermore. Anyway, we are back at Christmastime, and things are just not good over the holidays for the McClanes like… ever. Bruce Willis is back and kicking as the ever-sarcastic McClane, and I still reckon he was an awesome pick for the role. Al appears in here, though only momentarily, and I did miss the banter between McClane and Al, but it was to be no more. Pity. The story wasn’t very in depth or revolutionary, and at the end of the day, while entertaining at the time, it is rather forgettable (I can hear those torches being lit and pitchforks being hauled out, but it is true). Die Hard 2 is one of those action movies that has the explosions and gunfire and all those aspects, so it ticks the boxes, but it isn’t exceptionally memorable or smart. There were interesting characters and annoying characters, but the plot itself was so thin at the end of the day, and isn’t quite as entertaining as the first. The villains are also completely bland, but then topping Hans Gruber will be no simple task. A big part that makes Die Hard 2 work is how Bruce Willis embraces his role of John McClane. Just to see him having some goofy fun is alright. It takes a really long time for anything to actually start happening, so that already counted against it. It wasn’t a slow burn, it just wasn’t doing anything, then went for over the top overkill. It was a little bit too obvious about things, which also detracted. While not a terrible sequel, it is certainly not as great as it was ultimately hoping to be. I don’t really have much more to say about it, as I will just continue to repeat my sentiments.