Let’s get this out of the way: I don’t buy into the whole “‘Die Hard’ is a Christmas movie” thing.

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy this 1988 action flick classic that (deservedly so) launched Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman into super-stardom. But “taking place at Christmas” does not, in my opinion, a Christmas movie make.

Still, since mine is the hot take these days, it’s perfectly fitting that Pittsburgh CLO brought the acclaimed one-man comedy show “Yippee Ki Yay (The Parody Celebration of ‘Die Hard’)” to town for the holiday season. The show will run through Dec. 21 at the Greer Cabaret Theater in Downtown Pittsburgh.

Running at a compact 75 or so minutes, “Yippee Ki Yay” is performed by its writer and creator, Richard Marsh. The British writer, actor and poet has been touring the show across the United States and internationally, making a three-week pit stop here in Pittsburgh just before Christmas.

And the whole show is in rhymes.

That might sound gimmicky or intimidating, but it actually works, especially because Marsh is a fantastic and rhythmic performer who can make poetry — even limericks — sound natural. There’s also a good in-plot reason for the verse-filled script.

“Yippee Ki Yay” doesn’t just retell the plot of “Die Hard,” from John McClane’s flight to Los Angeles to the happy ending. Marsh’s show intersperses the film’s plot with a separate tale of romance: the story of the narrator’s marriage. From an unlikely relationship that grew from the social networking site Reddit through a number of ups and downs, Marsh pulls the audience into the compelling and heartwarming tale of love, laughter and big 1980s-style explosions.

But don’t despair, “Die Hard” fans. The whole story of one fateful Christmas Eve at Nakatomi Tower is laid out as well, with one man (or man-on-teddy-bear) fight choreography and hilarious voices to boot. From Bruce Willis’s melodic growl to Alan Rickman’s not-quite-German accent, Marsh constantly makes it clear whose dialogue he’s invoking.

It’s especially impressive that he can make witty pop culture references in verse, but from “Harry Potter” to “Game of Thrones,” he makes a joke out of just about every line.

Marsh also occasionally breaks the fourth wall to speak with the audience, notably to express his disappointment after he first sampled a Twinkie after coming to the States (if only “Die Hard” referenced Ho-Hos instead).

Underscoring every moment of the show is a deep love and dedication to the source material. It’s clear that this is a film that Marsh could recite beat for beat without extra research, and he’s unafraid to point out the most awesome parts, the fun details and maybe even a confusing bit or two along the way.

The staging of the show is pretty simple, with just a few props framing the stage. But the homegrown nature of the production both makes the performance feel intimate and reveals itself to make perfect sense within the story by the performance’s end. Director and dramaturg Hal Chambers, along with movement and associate director Emma Webb, make great use of the Greer’s small stage to help the audience picture the grandeur of a 40-story skyscraper and the closeness of a family living room simultaneously.

A real star here is the sound design, courtesy of Ben Hudson. Be warned, this show doesn’t cut out the gunshot sound effects, which are placed perfectly along with flashes from lighting designer Robbie Butler. The lighting’s different configurations also place us in the distinct parts of the intertwined storylines.

Pittsburgh CLO has pulled out all the stops to make this a great holiday show run. Special performances will be accompanied by ugly sweater contests, trivia nights and office holiday parties before shows.

This definitely feels like a piece of performance art — March is, after all, an ex-staple of the London poetry slam scene — but it has the kind of warm and fuzzy charm that will stave off the cold of Downtown Pittsburgh in December. This is a laugh-filled show for all seasons, but it’s a perfectly appropriate addition to your Christmas calendar.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to watch my favorite holiday film: “Iron Man 3.”

“Yippee Ki Yay (The Parody Celebration of ‘Die Hard’)” will run through Dec. 21 at the Greer Cabaret Theater in Downtown Pittsburgh. For tickets and to see performances that are accompanied by special events, visit pittsburghclo.org

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