Lionheart (1990)

I think this is that film in Van Damme’s filmography where he really cared the most about the character, story, and performance. I think there is something very important to Van Damme here about a deserter from the Foreign Legion and illegal immigrant in California, heading to LA to help his sister-in-law and niece when his brother was burned in a drug deal gone wrong and left to die, using underground and street fights with help from a “promoter” and manager, Joshua (played by the absolutely wonderful Harrison Page). Cynthia (Deborah Rennard), basically the alpha sleazebag except as a sexy blond instead of some disgusting frat jock douchebag, sees big money in Lyon, looking to exploit him as long as he lasts. Brian Thompson is her tagalog in a suit, the two of them sipping champagne in luxury limos while dining in fancy restaurants and grinning ear to ear as human animals pummel the living shit out of each other for their amusement and financial benefit. Joshua later reveals to Lyon (Van Damme) that Cynthia did something similar with him…including what happens at the end when she sets Lyon up against a difficult fighter who almost vanquishes him, Joshua wasn’t as lucky as Lyon, whose impressive heart and stick-to-itiveness pushed him through all the injuries, cuts, bruises, and fatigue to best the buff and hefty Attila (Qissi of “Kickboxer”), whose tolerance of blows and pain does last a while until he eventually deteriorates. 

Man, does that moment at the end – when Joshua, in tears and soaking up the win, tells Lyon about how much heart he has, with all the pride and love right there as the two hug – just get me all teary-eyed and hit me right in the feels. To me, the film just has heart. While <b>Knock Off</b> last week was more about the light-hearted and sillier side to Van Damme, I do appreciate seeing <b>Lionheart</b> from time to time for the obvious emotional investment involved with those who made this. Pelikan as Lyon’s sister-in-law and Johnson as the cute niece make up a solid cast. You just feel it from start to finish that this had heart and soul put into it. All the fighting was more or less included because Van Damme made a killing for studios and distributors in the past couple years. And the variety of venues and colorful opponents made for some interesting fights where Lyon doesn’t cakewalk through any of them. Once again, the hard-hitting editing, choreography, and use of sound design to make the blows seem devastating is very important for the fights to feel impactful and painful. Good to see Govedarica get an actual speaking part as one of the Foreign Legion sent to pick Lyon up, but Michel Qissi is also fun as the other officer who has a change of heart and allows Lyon to stay in America.