Who is the Audience for This Movie?

JCVD was made specifically for Jean-Claude Van Damme fans.

What I Liked About This Movie

If you grew up in the 90’s and had male genetalia then you most likely watched at least a handful of Van Damme’s movies. When he had a new movie coming out you had to see it because you knew it would have a lot of bad guy ass kicking and story would not get in the way of your fun. When the 90’s ended audiences taste in action heroes changed leaving Van Damme a product of that era. When people look back now on his film career they tend to do it in a mocking manner but I like to call those people “asses”. Sure his movies were not Oscar material but they always provided solid entertainment.

With that said my nostalgia for Van Damme’s movies was clearly in my head when I started this movie and I guess the directors expected it to be. The opening sequence epitomizes everything I liked about him back in the day; he kicks a lot ass. Soon after the killer fight sequence the real plot starts. Much of the movie is jammed with moments of both self satire and self realization that most actors would never feel comfortable filming. Van Damme holds nothing back in regards to how his career/life turned out. The pivotal moment is a lengthy monologue in which he looks directly at the camera to speak on what he has been through. In that one scene he shows more acting range then he has ever shown in any of his movies. It made me imagine how he would have fared in a high profile dramatic role.

What Didn’t Work For Me

It is so hurtful to say but the plot really did not work for me. I did not care about the failed post office heist or any of the characters involved with it. All of the scenes with Van Damme outside of the post office were fantastic. The entire time I was just wishing they would have chosen a better plot device that would have allowed the emphasis to be more focused on his life.

Should You Watch This Movie?

I am happy I did watch it I just wish it would have had a stronger plot.

My Rating (Out of 13)

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