Wrapped around a widespread terrorism plot designed to shut down the entire country, Live Free Or Die Hard (directed by Len Wiseman) is surrounded by action sequences so unbelievable, so ridiculous, you have to question why they bothered crafting a plausible scenario to fuel them. John McClane has dodged bullets and falling debris — yet avoiding a fighter jet, blowing up a helicopter, and surviving an entire country-wide fuel line explosion inside a van stretches even the logic of the Die Hard series.

McClane’s story is a little too reminiscent of Bruce Willis’ prior 16 Blocks, in which a small town cop is caught up in a transportation situation far larger than he expected. Those who believe Willis is too old to be taking on the McClane role are far off base. Even at 52, there’s no question he fits right in.

Tasked with moving a computer hacker (Justin Long) to custody, Willis is suddenly entrenched in a plot to, literally, bankrupt America. The cyber-terrorism concept is eerily plausible, and it’s a shame there are so few shots of the country in a state of panic. The ones included are wonderfully handled.

Of course, even with the entire government attempting to stop this plot, it’s the small New York detective and trusty unwilling sidekick hacker who manage to outwit them all. For a summer movie, that’s fine. McClane surviving multiple barrages of gunfire is acceptable. A few close calls for the sake of drama are necessary and fun.

What’s not acceptable is McClane surviving a fall from an exploding jet, an entire bridge collapsing on top of him, a deep fall from a window, multiple shattering glass frames, a leap from a car easily hitting 60 on the speedometer, a semi truck smashing into a ridiculously durable wall behind him, missile attacks, a car falling down an elevator shaft, and of course the countless explosions that never seem to be moving fast enough to catch up.

Yes, the Die Hard series has always been overdone fun. However, there’s always a baseline for the audience to suspend their disbelief. Anyone one of those above miracles would have been placed just fine. All of them in the same movie comes off as a sad attempt at one-upping all other action movies since Die Hard: With a Vengeance back in 1995. You’re not focusing on the intensity of the action or the special effects. You’re marveling at how durable a single guy can be.