[RobertMiller]

Classic action movies of the 80s often had very flat good-at-everything male heroes. What weaknesses does John McClain ever show in Die Hard? Vulnerability to walking barefoot on broken glass I guess, not much.

There are obviously exceptions, but generally action movies don't have very interesting characters.

[darkerside]

I feel like this is a poor example. McClain is frustrated and outmatched throughout the entire movie, and slowly is able to outmaneuver his foes through wit and determination.

[dionidium]

He's presented as a sad-sack alcoholic at the start of the movie!

[RobertMiller]

I guess I missed the alcoholism, I don't recall that. I remember he starts the movie with a bad relationship with his wife, but that's so he can win her back in the end with his counter-terrorism prowess (lol), not with any real character development that I remember.