Whilst it has become increasingly easy to laugh at Jean Claude Van Damme's recent spate of terrible, self-absorbed movies, lumping his films in the same category with Steven Segal as mindless action-fests starring non-actors, this assessment is not always fair. This negates the fact that at one time he was a box-office action hero with a decent reputation. Whilst never in the same league as Schwarzanegger, Stallone and Willis, the Muscles from Brussels did endure some success in the early nineties where he worked with some wily action director's (Roland Emmerich, John Woo and Peter Hyams) and where some of his films (Timecop, Nowhere to Run, Sudden Death, Universal Solidier, Kickboxer) were actually well-crafted, fast paced adventures. Indeed Van Damme's more recent straight to video atrocities illustrates the man as a parody of his former self.

While the time-travel logic is mostly flawed (both The Terminator and Back to the Future dealt with the concept more intelligently) leading to a few obvious plot holes, Timecop maintains such a frenzied fast pace that the viewer can easily ignore them, and simply enjoy the film as a ridiculous action adventure. Hyams is no Kubrick. Even an infusion of the great man's DNA wouldn't guarantee his next flick would rise above mediocrity. But so what? Hyams doesn't aspire to creative or intellectual brilliance, instead making films at his own pace and at his own level of artistic integrity. Many may frown upon such ungilded simplicity yet, for my money, Timcop achieves exactly what it sets out to do. Certainly no cerebral rush, but honest, solid entertainment. Hyams delivers his requisite quota of high kicks per dollar and exploding blood capsules per reel. And with Van Damme as the figurehead, he has a recognisable 2-D hero for the audience to cheer all the way.

The remainder of the cast also provide solid performances! Ron Silver gets away with a hammy rendition of Alan Rickman's Hans Gruber as the Presidential candidate who will do anything to get what he wants. Slimey and brutal in equal measure, he brings a presence to the film not often found in a Van Damme flick. Perhaps the single most outstanding performance comes from Bruce McGill as Walker's boss Matuzak. Sarcastic and bullish, he brings a light comic relief in a general buddy, buddy way through his verbal sparring with Van Damme (not that Van Damme says much)! Unfortunate that he doesn't get more screen time.

Overall - This is not a fantastic film! However it does exactly what it says on the tin! A workable plot, good sense of excitement with some solid action sequences and a nice streak of wit running throughout results in a film that is miles above the straight to video rubbish Van Damme's been condemning audiences to recently. No doubt thanks to the solid direction of Peter Hyams, by all means this is one of Van Damme's superior films.