Without the hilarious cameo from Pasha D. Lychnikoff as a good-natured Russian cab-driver, the antics of John McClane (Bruce Willis) in A Good Day to Die Hard would feel scarily familiar. Following a course previously charted by Live Free or Die Hard, McClane intervenes in a terrorist plot. This time, his son Jack (Jai Courtney) gets caught up in the intrigue.
 
Action sequences bombard the audience with steady nourishment. The first major incident involves an ear-splitting explosion. New cars become fresh fodder for McClane to trample over -- minus any serious casualties. Pacing surpasses all other considerations, including a dynamic emotional pull.
 
If you look for twists here, you won't find any because all roads lead to a pre-destined path. Things tend to plod a bit in the middle and the father/son bond sinks into an unforgiving quicksand. A Good Day to Die Hard acknowledges the viewer's expectations without offering any new surprises.
 
Willis can play this part without any real need to memorise the dialogue. Meanwhile, Courtney may have been chosen more for his babe-magnet good looks than any solid foundation in screen acting. He doesn't seem to take the situation all that seriously nor does he deliver any of the words with conviction.
 
Composer Marco Beltrami provides anarchy in the form of orchestral bombast. However, no effort on his part can overshadow Michael Kamen's singular instrumentations from the first film. Overall, there's scant durability for these instant thrills.

(Released by 20th Century Fox and rated "R" by MPAA.)