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- Amazon Prime
- Aug 19, 2016
- Amazon Prime
- Aug 19, 2016
Summary Jean-Claude Van Damme unretires and works as a private contract killer under the name Jean-Claude Van Johnson after he runs into his ex (Kat Foster) in this comedy written by David Callaham.
Created By: Dave Callaham
- Amazon Prime
- Aug 19, 2016
- Amazon Prime
- Aug 19, 2016
Summary Jean-Claude Van Damme unretires and works as a private contract killer under the name Jean-Claude Van Johnson after he runs into his ex (Kat Foster) in this comedy written by David Callaham.
Created By: Dave Callaham
Where to Watch
Season Episodes
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Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 15 Critic Reviews
60
40% Positive
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
60% Mixed
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 15 Critic Reviews
60
40% Positive
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
60% Mixed
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
In celebrating who Van Damme was at the peak of his career and who he is after his long fall from grace, about which the actor has been brutally honest, Callaham and Van Damme grant this series a balance of absurdity and gentle earnestness, even allowing it to end on a warm existential note.
The series has something of a “True Lies” feel, with its plot winking at itself. There is plenty of action and suspense and even a “Timecop” twist. J-C, though, is a different sort of action-figure, filled with more self-doubt and regret then you usually see in the movies. But even with that, the series smartly never takes itself too seriously.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 36 User Ratings
7.3
67% Positive
24 Ratings
24 Ratings
22% Mixed
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
11% Negative
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 36 User Ratings
7.3
67% Positive
24 Ratings
24 Ratings
22% Mixed
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
11% Negative
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked this series. Granted Jean-Claude and his acting are not the best, but I think it's the realization on his part that he is not that good that makes the series so goofy. Sadly there was only one season when there is so much garbage out there getting multiple seasons. This could have really taken off if they allowed it to
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SEASON 1
Jean Claude Van Johnson is a hyper-parody rom/com/dram that is perfect for binging, especially at only 6 1/2-hr eps. Comedy veteran Peter Attencio awesomely directs. This series is so fun. JC, as he's referred to throughout, is self-deprecating with plenty of knowing references to JCVD classics such as "Timecop" which is a subplot in itself. "Cosby" mom P-Rashad plays the villain so that's interesting. Ashley Tisdale look-alike Kat Foster and Bar Paly are the series' eye-candy. It's a fun little romp, hope it gets the second season the final scene previews.
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SEASON 1
Van Damme--older, wiser and slower, also wrinkled, hunched and melancholy--salvages an otherwise fascinating, uneven mess.
The full series, run by Dave Callaham and directed by Peter Atencio, is a weird ride, living in an uneasy space of parody, satire, homage, and straight-ahead drama.
The whole international-spy thing gets repetitive fast. Kat Foster is awfully appealing as her own sort of intelligence agent whose cover is that she’s Van Damme’s hairdresser--it’s easy to see why the action hero still pines for her. That on-again, off-again romance isn’t very sustaining, however. The show is likable--no more, no less.
The six-episode season gets increasingly outlandish, eventually including time travel, doppelgangers and a machine that controls the weather. It’s not quite enough to transcend the mediocre comedy, thin characters and rote fight scenes, but at least it’s more entertaining than another assembly-line D-level action movie.
Though clearly inspired, the overlapping cartoonish approach to this promising "return" proves to come from creativity that is clearly limited, instead of liberated.
Jean-Claude Van Johnson is a fantastic comedy/action series available with Amazon Prime TV. The series obviously stars the acclaimed action movie star of the 80's and 90's, Jean-Claude Van Damme, who provides most of the humor. The series depicts him as a self aggrandizing secret agent who uses his film career as a cover for his missions. He makes a terrible agent as he blows his cover regularly. And of course, can't help but reference some of his best movies titles like, "Blood Sport" and "Kick Boxer." Every mission reminding him of a former role. He is still a master of the splits and martial arts. With each mission ending in a fantastic hard to believe 80's action movie fashion. Watch this show if you're a fan of Jean-Claude Van Damme.
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SEASON 1
There are various elements that make this show appealing but the best two are its absurdity and humor. I remained entertained the whole way through because of how ridiculous the whole thing was. The Show doesn’t takes itself seriously and does a good job being both a parody of itself and Van Damme movies of old. There were several places that made me laugh harder than I have with a show in some time and I look forward to seeing it again at some point. It’s not going to be for everyone but if you are someone who find humor in hyperbole, then definitely give this one a go.
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SEASON 1
+Jean Claude Van Damme
+When at plays the parody card, it plays it well
+Impressive cinematography
-Pacing varies
-Suffers when taking itself seriously
Jean Claude Van Johnson's opening 3 episodes present us with an impressive and highly entertaining parody of the martial arts action genre that walks the line on becoming a full genre spoof.
Sadly the show later adopts a semi-serious tonal shift, becoming the bad action film it was originally a parody of. If your'e a JCVD fan it's a must, but to me it really felt like a missed opportunity after the half way mark.
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SEASON 1
Le premier épisode est plein de bonne idées et on pense retrouver dans cette mini-série ce côté décalé si drôle et émouvant du film JCVD avec JCVD lui-même dans son propre rôle (celui du plus célèbre des acteurs belges, inénarrable et... inclassable).
Mais on déchante de plus en plus par la suite et tout se casse la gueule... On a beau avoir une tendresse particulière pour ce "personnage" (car Jean-Claude est un personnage de fiction à part entière... dans le monde réel par sa manière d'être et son parcours), on n'adhère pas du tout à cette bouffonnerie complète de plus en plus hystérique, mélangée à de la guimauve de bas étage ici et là.
JC se ridiculise (une fois de plus, me dira-t-on...) mais sans faire rire pour autant. Il s'agit ici d'une longue farce qui ne prend pas et finit en eau de boudin malgré toutes les tentatives de fan service. Si on veut vraiment rigoler avec notre pote Jean-Claude, on se repassera plutôt ses légendaires interviews parmi lesquelles 1+1 = 11 (entre autres....). Mais là, franchement, c'est trop débile et trop mollasson pour qu'on y passe un rare bon moment.
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SEASON 1
