Hugely enjoyable action flick that delivers likeable characters, a decent plot, plenty of wisecracks and more breathtakingly ridiculous stunts than you'll know what to do with.

It's peppered with thrilling computer-generated action, but there's still something endearingly old-fashioned about McClane and his bare-knuckled way of dealing with bad guys.

This fourth episode of the Die Hard series, with its plot that seems to have come straight out of Marvel Comics and its preposterous if dynamic action sequences, has only a battered 52-year-old Bruce Willis as John McClane to commend it as a drama.

At least I hope it's the last. Willis does OK for a middle-aged guy, but as another famous die-hard once said, a man's got to know his limitations.

The most important thing is that director Len Wiseman stays true to the original formula. He could have gone for showy CGI or tried to be too self-referential. Instead, we get an uncomplicated plot, real stunts and a script which makes the most of Willis.

For the most part, it’s an enjoyable rollercoaster ride featuring lots and lots of explosions and some great special effects. Alas, it’s not up there with the first three movies.

Older, balder. Better

Given Wiseman’s lack of style or guile, Die Hard 4.0 is pining for the freshness JJ Abrams pumped into M:I:3. Dopey story, so-so script and mostly ordinary action. It’s the ever-enjoyable Willis that makes it worth your while.