Round V: The One-Liner
With the score currently standing at 0-2-2 (sorry Die Hard 2 but…you should have been better), we need one final category to break the tie and declare a winner in this silly little contest. Having already covered the story, characters, villains, and action, it seems to me that there is only one major Die Hard frontier left unexplored: The One-Liner.
You know the line of which I speak. The one little, throwaway quip John McClane directed at Hans Gruber in the middle of the first film, a crass and inauspicious piece of dialogue that, like the series itself, inexplicably exploded into a defining piece of action iconography: “Yippi-ki-yay, Motherf—er!” The quote is so ingrained into the very fabric of the series at this point that I cannot imagine analyzing the films without comparing how they employ this legendary kiss-off line.
And I am, believe it or not, extremely tempted to give Die Hard 2 the win in this category and send this Sequel-Off into a sixth round. Die Hard With a Vengeance does not really enter in to this particular conversation, as it stands a distant third in effectively using the one-liner (McClane says it after he kills Simon Gruber, which is a mistake), but Die Hard 2, for all its many faults, is undoubtedly the film that sent the line into the pop-culture stratosphere. Having just been thrown off the plane Col. Stuart and his cohorts are using to escape, McClane opens his lighter and prepares to set fire to a long stream of jet fuel – thus exploding the plane and exterminating the bad guys – but before he does so, he pauses. “Yippi-ki-yay, motherf—er,” he says, and lets the lighter go, thus setting his plan into motion.
It is a ridiculously badass moment, and a practically perfect use of the line. It punctuates McClane’s action, defining his character not as an out-and-out hero, but as a sarcastic yet resourceful man of action confident enough to pause for a quip. The moment works beautifully, only enhancing the awesome nature of a truly kick-ass finale, and is the real reason why “Yippi-ki-yay motherf—er” became a staple of the franchise.
But as good as Die Hard 2 does by the one-liner, I must go with my heart, and it tells me that the fourth film made even better use of McClane’s iconic vulgarity.
Yes, Live Free or Die Hard does indeed contain my favorite “Yippi-ki-yay.” No contest, really. I remember seeing the film for the first time, on opening night, and being blown away by the thoroughly surprising, badass, and completely ridiculous use of the one-liner.
By the time the film reaches the final standoff between McClane and villain Thomas Gabriel, John is in reliably bad shape, and stands little chance of taking the man out in combat, even if Gabriel is hardly a physical powerhouse. Gabriel does indeed get the upper hand, and with his daughter’s life at stake and a gun pressed against his chest, McClane comes up with a truly audacious idea.
“On your tombstone, it should read ‘Always in the wrong place at the wrong time,’” says Gabriel.
McClane responds: “How about ‘Yippi-ki-yay, motherf-“
And then leverages Gabriel to pull the trigger, shooting himself through the shoulder and killing the villain instantly. ‘Hell yeah’ does not even begin to describe it.
Beyond being a really awesome climactic surprise, the entire exchange is a great, thoughtful nod to McClane’s own unlikely iconography. The Die Hard series only perpetuates, from a narrative standpoint, because McClane has terrible, unlikely timing, as Gabriel correctly notes. But we stick with the movies because we love this crazy, profane action hero and his unorthodox methods, and McClane’s use of the one-liner – coupled with his last resort decision – is a wonderful defining moment for both the character and the series.
It is also possibly the cleverest f-word workaround in a PG-13 movie, and that alone is worthy of praise. While Die Hard 2 offers some strong competition, Live Free or Die Hard is the clear winner here to my mind.
The Winner: Live Free or Die Hard
Final Score: 0-2-3
THE WINNER: LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD
Yes, Live Free or Die Hard is indeed my favorite sequel in the series. While I do not feel any of the follow-up films come close to the original Die Hard, I like the fourth installment quite a bit – the silly PG-13 controversy wound up having no bearing on its quality – and believe it is the franchise’s most entertaining secondary entry.
Feel free to commence with the hate mail; I just hope we get at least one screaming Die Hard 2 fan-boy looking to pick a fight.
