Action-movie improv show a clever cliche

KILL HARD ★★★★★ Stage 18, Sugar Swing Dance Club

Yes, the title is a very thinly veiled reference to the classic action film Die Hard, starring Bruce Willis. No, Jamie Northan and Quinn Contini didn’t try very hard to find an original title.

But you know exactly what you’re going to get with KILL HARD: an improvised ’80s action film featuring all of the horrible cliches you loved to hate.

Stupid villain with a ridiculous backstory? Check. Over-the-top fight scenes that were as unrealistic as they were violent? In spades. An inexplicable love story that sets up the main conflict? Why wouldn’t there be?

While they may have cut back on energy when it came to titling, Northan and Contini really bring it when it comes to hilarious dialogue and brilliant character development.

Every night they get help from the audience to determine who’ll go to battle with our hero, John Striker.

This night, a Spanish bullfighter named Luis wins out over a rafting enthusiast with a massive ponytail and an evil pastor with a flair for the dramatic. These were audience suggestions that Northan and Contini brought to life and, for what it’s worth, any of the three would have made brilliant villains.

The ridiculous plot is helped along by some great sound design and audio effects that really sell the action movie theme. What could have easily been a few “BANG!” and “POWS!” yelled out onstage were more convincing, and somehow more hilarious, as audio effects.

If you love action movies and you love improv, or even if you just love having a good time, make sure to see KILL HARD.