Film Review: Die Hard 2 (1990)

(source: tmdb.org)

Many who complain about creatively bankrupt Hollywood churning out unimaginative sequels should at the end of the day point finger at the audience. After all, such sequels would have never been made if not for the fact that they tend to make money. It happens even with sequels that try very hard to look like carbon copies of their predecessors. The most spectacular example of such phenomenon is Die Hard 2, 1990 film directed by Renny Harlin and the sequel to action classic Die Hard.

The film is based on 58 Minutes, novel by Walter Wager that originally hadn’t anything to do with Die Hard. Its protagonist Frank Malone in the film was replaced with protagonist of Die Hard, New York police detective John McClane (played by Bruce Willis). The plot begins two years after the events depicted in the first film. Shortly before Christmas, McClane, who is now LAPD detective who awaits his wife Holly (played by Bonnie Bedelia) to join him at Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C. Another person flies towards same destination – General Ramon Esperanza (played by Franco Nero), once powerful military leader of (fictional) Latin American country Valverde who fought against Communist guerillas during Cold War, but who is now being extradited to US authorities over his role in drug smuggling. This apparently doesn’t sit well certain elements of US military and intelligence establishment who had considered disgraced general as their friend or someone that might reveal their own embarrassing secrets. One of those is Colonel William Stuart (played by William Sadler) who gathers small team of elite commandos and takes over control over airport’s communications, antennas and runway lights. His plan is to blackmail authorities into allowing Esperanza to flee; as a result of his actions, dozens of passenger planes are unable to land and must circle around airport until they run out of fuel and crash. McClane, who accidentally noticed activities of Stuart’s men and began his own investigation, is determined to renegade soldiers’ plan, even if he doesn’t get any cooperation from Captain Carmine Lorenzo (played by Dennis Franz), chief of airport’s police.

In its essence, Die Hard 2 attempts to copy basic plot of Die Hard in such way that it is even recognised by screenwriters Steven E. De Souza and Doug Harrington who allow protagonist to loudly complain that the exactly same things happen to him twice. The plot indeed has protagonist in almost exactly the same situation as the previous film – reunion with wife is thwarted by ruthless terrorists that take a location and put lives of innocent people, including his wife in danger; protagonist again must defeat them almost all by himself, hampered by sceptical or incompetent authorities (here represented by Captain Lorenzo, played well by Dennis Franz) and helped only by ordinary but friendly blue collar characters (here represented by janitor Marvin, played by Tom Bower). Repetitiveness of the plot is accentuated with not particularly convincing or needed reappearance of minor characters from first film – friendly LAPD sergeant Al Powell (played by Reginald VelJohnson) and ruthless television reporter Dick Thornburg (played by William Atherthon).

On the other hand, like many Hollywood sequels, Die Hard 2 tries to do the same things as Die Hard on a bigger scale. Legendary producer Joel Silver didn’t spare much effort or money in that regard, leading to bloated budget, but which is nevertheless seen in many spectacular scenes that feature plenty of pyrotechnics and special effects that were quite good for its time, including final shot that represented one of the earliest examples of modern CGI. The location is also much broader than single skyscraper and even the stakes for protagonist in this film are much higher; villains, unlike in most Hollywood films, actually carry out their threats resulting in murder of hundreds of innocent people, which would, on one hand, make some more sensitive viewers embittered while the other would root for McClane to finish his job as soon as possible and save lives of even larger number of people.

The film benefits a lot from presence of Renny Harlin, Finnish director that had only recently arrived in Hollywood. He shows great talent for directing many elaborate action scenes, although at times they look too violent or too bombastic. On the other hand, main character, who has already been established in the first film, doesn’t develop much apart from transforming from realistically-looking Everyman in difficult situation into Rambo-like supersoldier able to almost single-handedly take out almost all villains by himself. Willis nevertheless does what he can with his role and for the most part delivers McClane audience has met and started to like in the first film. This film, on the other hand, is much inferior to Die Hard 2 when it comes to villains. While it was difficult for anyone to fill the shoes of Hans Gruber in previous films, script for Die Hard 2 shows lack of focus, so instead of one major charismatic villain we have two. Although both are played by great actors – William Sadler and Italian star Franco Nero – they look one-dimensional and their relationship isn’t drawn out. De Souza, one of the screenwriters, modelled them after real life persons involved in Iran Contra scandal and other US government shenanigans with drug-dealing individuals in Central America, but this aspect of the film will be lost for audience unfamiliar with late Cold War history.

Yet, despite those flaws and despite being predictably worse than its predecessor, Die Hard 2 is very entertaining film that delivers many of the best aspects of 1980s style of big budget Hollywood action. The audience agreed with their verdict and Die Hard 2, despite stiff competition, had excellent results at the box office, even surpassing the original. The future of franchise was saved, although next three sequels in subsequent decades would leave much to be desired.

RATING: 7/10 (+++)