JCVD

Having grown up in the 80’s, my staple diet consisted of larger than life action movies.

I can remember watching the original Kick Boxer movie maybe 5 or 6 times in a row after convincing, an obviously unsuitable, adult career to hire it for me. Jean-Claude Van Damme was one of the great martial arts stars of the time, and one of the most prolific actors around this period for big dumb action flicks.

Who would have guessed he could act? Or be willing to self deprecate himself so much that I would actually feel emotions, during one of his films, that were not based on pure adrenaline.

The plot, not that it really matters focuses on Jean Claude Van Damme, playing himself, returning to Brussels.

He has had a bad run of event. Down on his luck, out of money, in the midst of a difficult custardy battle for his daughter, and, ever worse, losing out to Steven Seagal for a movie role (Steven apparently agreed to cut off his pony tail to win the part!)

Returning to his home to seeks out some peace and quiet, things go from bad to worse when he ends up in the middle of a post office robbery.

The film is wonderful. I don’t want to say too much as to ruin what happens. The film shows a completely different side to Jean Claude. Don’t go in expecting an action film, this is different. It's a satirical documentary about his life, contained within a darkly comedic bank heist movie

Meh! Rating 8/10