Lionheart (1990)

In between the releases of the racing documentary Lionheart (2022) and the historic drama Lionheart (1987) with Eric Stoltz and Gabriel Byrne, came the Jean-Claude Van Damme vehicle Lionheart (1990). Also known as A.W.O.L: Absent Without Leave and Wrong Bet, the R rated action flick follows French Foreign Legion solider Lyon “Lionheart” Gaultier (Van Damme) who is stationed in East Africa. When his sister-in-law Hélène (Lisa Pelikan) writes to say his brother (Ash Adams) is dying from a drug deal gone bad in Los Angeles, Lyon deserts and heads to California to help them. But first Lyon must make it out of the Big Apple, where he landed sans cash. In order to earn some money to travel cross-country, Lyon partakes in underground fights run by Cynthia Caldera (Deborah Rennard). As you might expect, the martial arts star kicks ass and takes names as he faces Attilaa (Abdel Qissi), Moustafa (Michel Qissi), a garage fighter (Tony “Satch” Williams), and a monster fighter (James Brewster Thompson). Luckily for us, Jean-Claude also takes his shirt off! Like most Van Damme films, there isn’t much nudity, but he throws us a bone when he loses his top. If flashing his muscular back and awesome abs isn’t arousing enough, the handsome hunk reveals his fine frame when he briefly struts his stuff in the buff. Yes, Jean-Claude is a feast for the eyes. Maybe that’s why the Belgian dish steams up the screen when he serves up a heaping helping of his hot buns. Yum yum!