TIMECOP

Do you know how many different varieties of law enforcement official there are? No? Here, let me tell you: Special Constable. Detective. Superintendent. Lieutenant. Police Officer. Commissioner. Bionic. Time-displaced. Animal. Vegetable. And Mineral. What? You think that I am lying? Then have a look at this movie Directed by: Peter Hyams; and Starring: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Mia Sara, Ron Silver and Bruce McGill. It was made in 1994, and lasts for 98-minutes.


Timecop

THE STORY:

Mary Mother of God! One minute kung-fu nineties cop, Max Walker (Jean-Claude Van Damme), witnesses his wife, Melissa (Mia Sara), getting blow-up in their very own home. And the next minute he's in the timid twenties, trying to prevent his partner from committing investment fraud. What the f*ck is going on?

Well, it's kind of simple to explain really. Max is a time-travelling law enforcer living in 2004, under the helm of flag waving Commander, Eugene Matuzak (Bruce McGill). Plus in addition to this, he has recently discovered that corrupt Senator, Aaron McComb (Ron Silver), has found a way to likewise 'use' time, to further his own political career.

Please note, I did say 'kind of'.

However, after his most recent adventure, Max comes under the watchful eye of said Senator McCombs, who in turn tries his best to stop Max from investigating his sordid endeavors any which way he can.

For example, he gets a couple of his hired goon's to kick the living sh*t out of him at his apartment. Plus he also gets internal affairs officer, Sarah Fielding (Gloria Reuben), to follow his every move.

Very troubling right? Yes. For Sarah. Because when she accompanies Max on his next time-travelling mission in 1994, she and Max both witness the present day Senator McCombs, aiding his younger self in a shady electronics transaction. But do not think that this is what's troubling Sarah, oh no. Rather, that when she reveals to Max that she is actually one his McCombs's hired goons - a battle ensures - and she is left wounded and stuck in the past. 

Ooops!

Still, do you want to know what is even more troubling than that? When Max returns to his present once again, and Commander Matuzak tells him that McCombs's is going to be the next president of the United States, and that he is going to shut their time-travelling department down. 

Oh! I suppose that is why what next transpires begins when Max goes back to the past then, huh? As turn-coats turn up in bed - lost loves get confused in the head - Max doubly fights someone called Fred - and bad-guys end up just like brown-bread.

BOOM! And what was once old is now new.

THE REVIEW:

Now I remember watching 'Timecop' back in the day, because it was one of those films that any comic book reading kung-fu freak really wanted to see. I particularly remember how smug I felt seeing at the time, knowing that I had 'one up' on most of the other kids, due to the fact that this project came from a comic I actually read. However, now, with my slightly more mature perspective (wagga-wagga-wagga), I don't know what all the fuss was about!

Well, this is what I would call a good / bad more, one which has both... ahem... advantages and disadvantages to it. To elaborate:

ADVANTAGES:

(1) As a time-travelling story goes, this one is fairly simple to follow all in all. And to be perfectly honest with you, I feel that this simplicity is its' most redeeming feature. (2) Bruce McGill is one of those actors who always make's me smile whenever I see him on the screen. It's as though this avuncular figure has come to join this project, to aid it with his congenial warmth and bad hair. (3) For this token ninety's bad-guy, actor, Ron Silver, doesn't pull off a bad job in playing both a younger and an older version of himself. In many way's he aides the overall arc of the story with his slight alterations to his character, making you believe that two versions of himself can exists. (4) I liked the way that Jean-Claude's character, Max, double-backed on himself in the story, almost making a complete story of two-half's.

DISADVANTAGES:

(1) The henchmen in this film look bloody stupid. Honestly, I would have been more scared of a pumped up drag queen than some of the potato faced guys on display. (2) Jean's character is too one note in key, almost as if he is trying to imitate a modern day version of 'Dirty Harry' or something. Granted, by the end of this film he does redeem himself in part. But I found this to be too little too late. (3) The final battle between all the guys in Max's house went on for too long for my liking. Half way though it I could not help but briefly glimpse down at my watch before shouting 'Get on with it' at the screen. (4) By in large the special effects on show were not that bad really - especially for a nineties film. However, the way that 'Mr Big' snuffed it at the end of the flick, did remind me of yogurt being sieved in the sink. 

Yeah - four each - that sounds about right. How about some filmic-fact's now, huh? (1) The futuristic-looking wristwatch worn by Max is a Casio DW-400. (2) Jean-Claude studied classical ballet for over five years. (3) This film is based on a comic book developed by 'Dark Horse', who are the same publishers that handle projects such as 'Predator', 'Aliens', and 'Barb Wire'. (4) Mia Sara has had a daughter with Brian Henson, the son of Muppet Show creator, Jim Henson. (5) In the double-tastic fight scenes, Jean-Claude's stunt double was used to create the illusion of the younger Max. (6) Ron Silver was a Spanish teacher for several years. (7) The 'Black Black' chewing gum, as chewed in this film, is an actual Japanese brand, promoted by Jean-Claude in a 1994 television commercial. And (8) During the eighties, Jean was the sparring partner of Chuck Norris.

All in all 'Timecop' is a fairly decent film really. Not the best film involving time-travel and a kung-fu cop, agreed. But still, it is one of those movies that is simple to follow, and has a nice eighties vibe about it (although it was made in the nineties). Need a remake me thinks? Agreed Jean-Claude?

Well sod you then!

THE RATING: B