WhileJean-Claude Van Dammewas one of the biggest action stars of the 1990s, viewers might be surprised to learn his best performance was in the little-known Netflix movieThe Last Mercenary. As the man dubbed ‘The Muscles From Brussels,’ Van Damme has never been afraid to poke fun at his reputation as a genre-bending martial arts star. Following his breakout role as thereal-life fighter Frank Dux inBloodsportback in 1988, Van Damme has continually delivered fast-paced thrills across action, comedy, sci-fi, and thrillers.
Van Damme has excelled as a hero in classics likeUniversal Soldierand has even joined fellow action movie icons as a villain inThe Expendables 2. While Van Damme has poked fun at his cinematic persona with somehilarious JCVD cameosover the years, he also embraced full-blown satire as he portrayed a fictionalized version of himself in the cult comedyJCVD. However, oneunderrated moviethat captured all these facets of his legacy wasthe wild French-language comedyThe Last Mercenaryfrom 2021.
JCVD Delivers Both Action & Comedy In The Last Mercenary
Van Damme Proves His Talents For Both Genres In This Netflix Film
The career of Jean-Claude Van Damme began with him showing off his incredible karate and kickboxing skills in now classic martial arts movies, but as the years have gone on, he’s begun to embrace comedy a lot more. This was seen in the meta semi-biopicJCVD, as well as light comedies likeWelcome to the Jungle,and even as the voice of Jean Clawed inMinions: The Rise of Gru. With these credentials to his name,it made sense for Van Damme to embrace his sillier side inThe Last Mercenary.
Telling the story of a former Secret Service agent,The Last Mercenarysaw Van Damme’s Richard Brumère urgently returning to France after his estranged son was falsely accused of drug trafficking. As a master of disguise, Brumère makes effective use of several wigs to blend in as he embarks on a wild quest to clear his son’s name. The sheer ridiculousness of Van Damme’s costumes alone was enough to makeThe Last Mercenarya must-watch release, and it was further elevated by great fight sequences and some truly cheesy dialogue.
The Last Mercenary Is Even Better For Longtime JCVD Fans
Van Damme Hilariously Pokes Fun At His Career And Legacy
The Last Mercenaryworks well as a hilarious French action comedy for those unfamiliar with Van Damme’s legacy, but for those with in-depth knowledge of his career, it’s truly sidesplitting. And, speaking of side-splitting, VanDamme even finds time to perform his signature splits movethat has been seen time and again throughout his career. That’s becauseThe Last Mercenarywas absolutely packed with references to Van Damme’s filmography, with eagle-eyed viewers in for a treat as they try to spot every allusion throughout.
The many wigs that Van Damme donned throughout the film also hinted at hairdos that the martial arts star has had over the years.
There was even a blatant reference toBloodsportin the scene where Brumère punches an opponent in the groin, which harkens back to Frank Dux’s fight against Pumola. The many wigs that Van Damme donned throughout the film also hinted at hairdos that the martial arts star has had over the years, such as his greasy mullet as Chance Boudreaux inHard Target. These clever nods to the Belgian star’s legacy madeThe Last Mercenaryabsolutely essential viewing for hardcore Van Damme fans.
WhileThe Last Mercenarylanded on Netflix to little fanfare in 2021, it stands out as the best performance in Van Damme’s entire career and a firm showcase that he can still deliver laughs and thrills in equal measure. With a lighthearted sense of fun and a willingness to embellish the image he built of himself in the public eye throughout the 1990s, there’s something great about an action star who’s not afraid to laugh at his legacy. AnyJean-Claude Van Dammefans will be in for a great time when they check outThe Last Mercenaryon Netflix.
