Based on the Dark Horse comic books, screenplay by Mike Richardson and Mark Verheiden demands that the viewer suspends a lot of disbelief. In 1994, time travel is discovered and U.S. government sets up TEC - elite secret unit of superagents, whose only job is to prevent the people from abusing the technology and changing past for their own purposes. After his loving wife Melissa (Mia Sara) dies, Washington D.C. policeman Max Walker (Jean-Claude Van Damme) would join that force. Ten years later, Max Walker discovers that powerful and greedy Senator McComb (Ron Silver) already sends his henchmen into the past to steal money in order to bring funds for his presidential campaign. Walker goes back to 1994 in order not only to prevent the conspiracy, but also to save his own wife.

Apart from big plot holes involving time paradox, scientific gaffs (carbon dating of gold) or huge implausibilities, TIMECOP is a rather entertaining film. Peter Hyams, who directed it, can make his way through SF material (starting with his 1980 space opera OUTLAND), knows the limitation of material and does standard action routines, indulging himself with few experiments with photography. Jean-Claude Van Damme as protagonist is quite tolerable, although his acting talent is always comes second to his martial arts abilities. The real winner in that contest is Ron Silver as corrupt senator, in role very similar to the one he had played in LIVE WIRE. This time it is real fun watching him, especially in the scene when he meets younger version of himself. However, although TIMECOP has required amount action scenes, few rather impressive shots, couple of well-choreographed fights and relatively good looks, it is still mediocre piece of Hollywood cinema. Those who aren't easily insulted with cliches and disregard for scientific facts might still enjoy it, though.