We all remember Jean-Claude Van Damme from some pretty big hits a decade or so ago. I mean who could forget the flexibility he shows in fight scenes. Literal flexibility, the ability to do those splits seemed very near inhuman. I had almost forgotten about him in recent years not having seen anything new for a while. But he is still around making new stuff.

In The Shepherd: Border Patrol, Jean-Claude Van Damme takes on the role of a border agent named Jack Robideaux in a small southwestern town. He shows up to town in a pickup truck with only a duffel bag and a rabbit. Yes, a bunny rabbit, who also happens to be named Jack. Robideaux has just transferred there from the New Orleans police department where he was a homicide detective, and he definitely has his own agenda to push. With or without help from anyone, he is determined to take down a drug cartel.

Now taking down a normal drug cartel wouldn't be easy, but he has to contend with the fact that the one he has decided to dispose of is compromised of ex-American Special Forces members. They are very well-trained and highly skilled with all manner of weapons and explosives.

Border Patrol has good and bad times. The hand to hand combat scenes are honestly much more believable than in his younger, fancier years. Instead of going for a whole bunch of jump, spin kicks that were honestly more flashy than functional, the fighting moves are much simpler and real looking. The character of Jack Robideaux is the strong, silent type. They just don't give him a whole lot of lines, but then it fits with the character. I did like the sound effects and the camera work was well done for the most part.

Trying to hide his accent by claiming he's from New Orleans just didn't work for me, but then I live an hour from New Orleans and know how people really sound there. Also, for a movie that has a very large number of guns and explosions, I would have expected a lot more action. Yes, there was a decently high body count and a few good fights, but there were also several times when the movie lost my interest for a few minutes.

There aren't any bonus features on the DVD, so we don't get to see the making of any of the fight scenes, or any amusing outtakes. Even without bonus features though, The Shepherd: Border Patrol is a decent movie to watch. It's at least worth a rental.