| rdfs:comment | - JCVD is a 2008 Belgian crime drama film directed by French Tunisian film director Mabrouk El Mechri, and starring Jean-Claude Van Damme as a semi-fictionalized version of himself, a down and out action star whose family and career are crumbling around him as he is caught in the middle of a post office heist in his hometown of Brussels, Belgium. This was Jean-Claude Van Damme's first theatrical release film in nine years since his starring role in 1999's Universal Soldier: The Return.
- A Dramedy starring Jean Claude Van Damme as Jean-Claude Van Damme. A tired, washed-out failure, struggling for work and (subsequently) money, the film starts with JCVD returning to his hometown of Brussels, Belgium. When one day going to the local Post Office to receive a wire transfer, he suddenly finds himself smack-bang in the middle of a robbery, held at gun point and marched into the back with the other customers and staff, where he's forced to juggle their expectations of "the Muscles from Brussels" with the fact he's a 48 year old man who really doesn't want to get shot.
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| abstract | - JCVD is a 2008 Belgian crime drama film directed by French Tunisian film director Mabrouk El Mechri, and starring Jean-Claude Van Damme as a semi-fictionalized version of himself, a down and out action star whose family and career are crumbling around him as he is caught in the middle of a post office heist in his hometown of Brussels, Belgium. This was Jean-Claude Van Damme's first theatrical release film in nine years since his starring role in 1999's Universal Soldier: The Return. The film was screened on 4 June 2008 in Belgium and France, at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival (Midnight Madness), and at the Adelaide Film Festival on 20 February 2009. It was distributed by Peace Arch Entertainment from Toronto and opened in New York and select cities on 7 November 2008.
- A Dramedy starring Jean Claude Van Damme as Jean-Claude Van Damme. A tired, washed-out failure, struggling for work and (subsequently) money, the film starts with JCVD returning to his hometown of Brussels, Belgium. When one day going to the local Post Office to receive a wire transfer, he suddenly finds himself smack-bang in the middle of a robbery, held at gun point and marched into the back with the other customers and staff, where he's forced to juggle their expectations of "the Muscles from Brussels" with the fact he's a 48 year old man who really doesn't want to get shot. His day does not improve from there. Quite probably the finest film Jean Claude Van Damme has starred in for years (possibly ever), and immediately recognized as such when it was released. It gets a lot of mileage out of both the public's perception of him, and the current state of his career.
* Actor Allusion - there are several discussions about Jean-Claude's famous movies / TV appearance.
* Anachronic Order
* Ascended Fanboy: one of the robber is a huge fan of Jean-Claude Van Damme, and his hero just come in the post office he is working in. The two boys in the video club also count.
* As Himself
* Bittersweet Ending: JCVD is in prison, but he can meet his daughter
* Boring but Practical: At the end, in his Imagine Spot, Jean-Claude first pictures taking out the gunman holding him hostage with a flashy high kick, but when it comes to the act itself just goes with a straight elbow-shot to the guy's gut, which works just as well.
* Character Title: and also some kind of Mononymous Biopic Title, but it is not a Biopic of Jean-Claude van Damme.
* Deconstruction
* Die Hard In A Bank: A very clever deconstruction of this trope.
* Fake Action Prologue: the opening scene is a Show Within a Show
* Hey, It's That Guy!: François Damiens (the police officer) is well known in Belgium for his role: François l'embrouille
* Hostage Situation
* Imagine Spot: Jean-Claude imagines himself taking out the final robber single-handedly, and the crowd cheering him on. He does manage to elbow the man in the gut before the police finish the job for him
* Logo Joke
* Nice Guy: JCVD is portrayed as one of these throughout the film, which is lampshaded by the owners of the shop across the street from the bank
* The Oner
* Right Hand Versus Left Hand: Most of the action of the film centers around the police and the robbers not being entirely sure what the other one is doing, or at least having a distorted perception of motives
* Take That: Jean-Claude's fanboy complain about John Woo's behaviour, how he dumped JCVD when he became famous in Hollywood. There is also a joke about Steven Seagal.
* Taking the Kids
* Wouldn't Hurt a Child: played straight for one robber, averted for another one.
* Wrongful Accusation Insurance: Subverted. Jean Claude is convicted and serves time for embezzlement that he performed while being threatened by the actual robbers.
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