Unleashing Explosive Action: Jean-Claude Van Damme's Time Traveling Cop Epic Reignites the Genre

Action cinema in the 90s was vastly different from what it is today. While most modern films in the genre are often reboots, remakes, or sequels, there was a unique energy during that era. It was a time when actors like Bruce Willis and even less talented ones like Steven Seagal became household names, relying on their personal brand rather than the quality of the movies themselves. Occasionally, even the most absurd action star vehicles managed to capture something special, as seen in the case of Timecop, released in 1994.

Jean-Claude Van Damme was the epitome of the 90s action hero. With his background as a skilled martial artist and trained ballet dancer, he quickly rose to fame in the 80s as a sought-after action star. Following his breakthrough role in Bloodsport, Van Damme went on to headline one over-the-top action film after another. While many of his projects are now remembered fondly with a tinge of irony, certain films like Timecop continue to hold a cult classic status.

What is Timecop About?

Walker, a respected police officer from DC, is approached by the Time Enforcement Commission (TEC) after the emergence of time travel technology in an alternate 1994. Despite considering joining the TEC, Walker's life takes a tragic turn when he and his wife are viciously attacked by unknown assailants, leaving his family destroyed and his life in ruins.

A decade later, Walker has risen through the ranks and become a successful member of the TEC. During the arrest of his former partner, he uncovers a corrupt senator named Aaron McComb who exploits his power and unregulated time travel access for personal gain and influence. McComb, resembling the stereotypical villains of the 80s and 90s, particularly Donald Trump, employs intricate time travel schemes to further his agenda.

As McComb's plan unfolds, he travels back in time to warn his younger self of future events and provide investment advice, ultimately propelling himself ahead in the presidential race in an alternate 2004. Faced with the urgency of time, Walker must outsmart McComb and shape a better future. This sci-fi action blockbuster quickly became Jean-Claude Van Damme's most profitable film.

What is Timecop Based On?

In the 1994 film Timecop, which was based on the comic book series Time Cop: A Man Out of Time by Mike Richardson, Mark Verheiden, and Ron Randall, the story diverges from the comic but both feature the protagonist Max Walker. The comic, published in three parts from August to October 1992 as part of Dark Horse's anthology series, follows Walker, a cynical TEC agent in 2007, as he thwarts criminals who exploit time travel. Drawing inspiration from classic sci-fi comics like Judge Dredd, the series takes Walker on a mission to stop an outlaw from seizing a diamond mine in 1930s South Africa. With the assistance of a local man named Joseph M'Boto, Walker defeats the criminal and a deadly security robot. However, upon returning to 2007, Walker discovers that the robot remained operational, causing significant changes to the timeline. To rectify this, Walker travels back to 1933 to dispose of the machine, once again aided by M'Boto. After successfully saving the future a second time, Walker is impressed by M'Boto and rewards him with the diamonds. When Walker returns to 2007, he finds his timeline restored, except for one notable change - M'Boto used his newfound wealth to lead political activism and put an end to segregation in South Africa.

How Does Timecop End?

In Timecop, the time travel system operates through a multiverse, where traveling back in time creates a new branch of the timeline. McComb, a wealthy frontrunner for president, uses a prototype time machine to eliminate the TEC. Walker, the protagonist, discovers that McComb was responsible for his wife's death and intervenes to save his younger self. In a final confrontation, Walker merges both versions of McComb, causing them to disappear from time. Additionally, Walker successfully saves his wife and returns to a fully functional TEC and a happy marriage in 2004.

Timecop is a film that combines silliness with thought-provoking concepts, surpassing typical Jean-Claude Van Damme movies. While offering enjoyable science fiction elements, the true appeal lies in its chaotic and fast-paced storytelling, characteristic of 90s action films. You can now watch Timecop on Tubi and Amazon Prime Video, taking a nostalgic trip back to 1994 with this Van Damme classic.