Jean-Claude Van Johnson

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Season 1
Metascore
60

Mixed or average reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
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Critic Reviews

  1. IndieWire
    Reviewed by: Ben Travers
    Dec 13, 2017
    58
    JCVJ does a better job of playfully incorporating its homages, but they still don’t build to anything more meaningful. Van Damme himself has a bit of fun playing another character, but exhibits little enthusiasm as “himself.” All in all, it’s a rather forgettable, and even if “JCVJ” finds an audience, this diversion could’ve resonated with a wider niche.
  2. The New Yorker
    Reviewed by: Richard Brody
    Dec 15, 2017
    50
    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.
  3. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    Reviewed by: Matt Zoller Seitz
    Dec 15, 2017
    50
    Jean-Claude Van Johnson is just okay most of the time, occasionally verging on a mess. ... Still, Van Damme’s alternately bemused and haunting visage makes it worth a look.
  5. Yahoo TV
    Reviewed by: Ken Tucker
    Dec 15, 2017
    50
    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.
  6. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Daniel Fienberg
    Dec 14, 2017
    50
    Directing all six installments, Atencio maintains high production values and when there's an action sequence opportunity--a fight-to-the-death in front of the Huck green screens or some of the climactic battles in the finale--he makes the most of it. It feels like more of a writing problem that whole episodes go by without anything amusing or memorable transpiring.
  7. CNN
    Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    Dec 14, 2017
    50
    To be fair, the idea underlying the show isn't a bad one. It's just in the execution where it would help if the star really could turn back time.
  8. Las Vegas Weekly
    Reviewed by: Josh Bell
    Dec 14, 2017
    50
    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.
  9. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Mike Hale
    Dec 14, 2017
    50
    Although occasionally funny, Jean-Claude Van Johnson sits in an odd no-man’s-land between clever self-parody and aggrieved vanity project.
  10. RogerEbert.com
    Reviewed by: Nick Allen
    Dec 14, 2017
    40
    Though clearly inspired, the overlapping cartoonish approach to this promising "return" proves to come from creativity that is clearly limited, instead of liberated.

Awards & Rankings

23
#23 Most Shared TV Season of 2016

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 36 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 36
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 36
  3. Negative: 4 out of 36
  1. Broyax
    Mar 30, 2019
    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 avecLe 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.    … Full Review »
  2. Madmortagan68
    Dec 19, 2017
    7
    There are various elements that make this show appealing but the best two are its absurdity and humor. I remained entertained the whole wayThere 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.… Full Review »
  3. Cobthecrazed
    Feb 17, 2022
    9
    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 theI 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… Full Review »
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