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The 1980s and 90s were a golden age of action movies. The best formula for the genre goes as follows: a cop/soldier protagonist (bonus points if he’s “former” or “disgraced”) seeks to rescue/avenge a captured or deceased family member/friend/law enforcement partner. When you can take that formula and give it an extra ridiculous twist, you’ve got gold. That’s exactly what Jean-Claude Van Damme did in Timecop, which you can watch free on Plex this month.
WATCH “TIMECOP” FREE TODAY
Action movie heroes of this era can be mostly broken down into three categories: the perennial juggernauts (Arnold and Stallone), the unlikely legends (Bruce Willis, Swayze, etc.), and the over-the-top legitimate fighters. Two names always come to mind for me in this last category: Van Damme and Steven Seagal. While I consider myself a card-carrying Seagalogist (just for his movies, not his abhorrent personal life), I’ve always appreciated JCVD for his contributions to my favorite movie genre.
His early work (Bloodsport, Kickboxer) emphasized his martial-arts background and athleticism (splits for days) while hoping you overlook his questionable acting abilities. Jean-Claude Van Damme really shined when the plots could be summed up in an absurd elevator pitch, like “JCVD fights himself (Double Impact)” or “JCVD saves the Stanley Cup (Sudden Death).” Perhaps no movie encapsulates that spirit quite like Timecop.
Officer Max Walker (Van Damme) travels through time to stop the corrupt politician (Ron Silver) from using time travel to alter events to attain greater power and wealth. I could try to break down the plot further, but most movies with time travel tend to get overcomplicated, and this one is no exception.
Who needs an easy-to-follow plot when you’ve got JCVD with a gorgeous mullet hitting his signature splits and kicking the bejesus out of everyone? Plus, you get great supporting roles from Silver (Bruno Gianelli for my fellow West Wing nerds) and Mia Sara (better known as Sloane in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off).
Where To Watch Timecop FREE Online
Thanks to Plex, you can watch this cult action classic and other great movies free from almost any device (Apple, Android, Roku, Amazon Fire, and more).
Plus, Plex has an incredible library of movies and TV shows, from A24 indie faves to Saturday morning staples. Get started at the link below!