Something for Everyone

by Henry Kellison

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Christmas is for family time, and nothing brings my family together like watching “Die Hard.” Most people remember John McTiernan’s 1988 action thriller for its big explosions, quippy dialogue, and star-making performances from Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman. Above all, though, DIE HARD is the relatable story of a world-weary man who just wants to leave an office holiday party and spend Christmas with his family.

There aren’t many holiday films that everyone in my family can agree on. Most are too sentimental, too archaic, or too campy to be a consensus pick. But “Die Hard” has something for everyone: John McClane’s timeless everyman appeal (my dad); the surprisingly sophisticated visual storytelling (me); Hans Gruber’s venomous voice reading “Now I have a machine gun, ho ho ho” written on his henchman’s corpse (my sister); and possibly the best-ever use of “Ode to Joy” in the movies (my mom).

This tale of an off-duty cop facing a group of terrorists in downtown LA changed movies forever. It brought the larger-than-life action heroes of the ‘80s down to Earth. Its unusual combination of drama, romance, confined spaces, and heavy explosives created a new template for genre storytelling that inspired “Cliffhanger,” “Con Air,” and countless other films. But it also gave my family another reason to gather around the Christmas hearth every year. Though we all know the beats of the Nakatomi Plaza heist by heart, the joy that re-watching “Die Hard” together brings to my family will never grow old.

Loving God, thank you for the joy of this season. For the beauty of this world and for the simple, true blessings of family, friends, and loved ones. Amen.