‘Die Hard’ a blast with offbeat supporting cast

Published 2:53 pm Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Yes, at one point the villain actually says, “Launch the downloads,” as part of his nefarious attempt to cripple the U.S. computer grid. But don’t let that fool you.

“Live Free or Die Hard” is still a brawny, two-fisted action movie, a real throwback to the best of the mid-1990s blockbusters – except that it’s actually better than most of those movies, including the previous two “Die Hard” sequels. This is a preposterous and highly entertaining summer movie.

Bruce Willis returns to the role of NYPD cop John McClane for the first time since 1995’s “Die Hard With a Vengeance.” Time has taken its toll; Willis’ bald head now looks like the weathered brow of a whale, complete with harpoon marks.

But when a mad computer genius (droll Timothy Olyphant) hatches his plan, Willis is pressed into service. Escorting a young hacker (Justin Long) around, McClane quickly becomes the world’s best hope to stop an Internet meltdown that would bring the country to its knees.

That’s fine. But here’s what you need to know: Guys jumping off buildings. Cars entering a giant tunnel from opposite directions. An SUV dangling in an elevator shaft. McClane driving a semi while an elevated freeway collapses and a fighter jet closes in.

This movie skips through its spectacular stunt sequences like a great chef preparing one tasty entree after another. It’s an attempt to out-Bruckheimer Jerry Bruckheimer’s run of big-hardware action flicks, and it succeeds.

Tying it all together is Willis, who still has his trademark delivery and passable agility. Playing off Justin Long, who’s best known as the “Hi, I’m a Mac” guy in those Apple computer commercials, Willis gets to be both old-school foxy and paternal.

Did I believe he could leap from a falling truck to the wing of a plane and then bounce onto the aforesaid collapsing freeway? Well, why not?

“Live Free or Die Hard” is directed by Len Wiseman, who made the lousy “Underworld” and its sequel. Someone must have put something in his cornflakes (I suspect Willis), because the action in this movie is much better staged than in his previous films.

The film is crowded with offbeat people filling out stock roles: Cliff Curtis as a blustery federal agent, Maggie Q as a high-kicking McClane adversary, and director and nerd-in-chief Kevin Smith as an all-seeing computer wizard.

But Bruce Willis tops them all, by underplaying. Well, except for one awkward scene that comes close to Willis lecturing Long on the subject of responsibility and maturity. Who needs that when you’ve got cars to blow up?

“Live Free or Die Hard”

Guilty pleasure: A preposterous and highly entertaining summer movie, with NYPD cop John McClane (Bruce Willis) once again called in to save the day, in a story about a massive computer meltdown, which doesn’t get in the way of cars exploding or freeways collapsing. Willis is in smooth form and the stunt work on this film is amazing. The action isn’t believable, but it’s incredibly well staged. With Justin Long and Timothy Oly-phant.

Rated: PG-13 rating is for violence, language, subject matter

Now showing: Alderwood Mall, Everett, Galaxy Monroe, Marysville, Mountlake, Stanwood, Meridian, Metro, Oak Tree, Woodinville, Blue Fox Drive-In, Cascade Mall