French writer-director Jean-Marie Poire retools his 1993 European box-office hit comedy, LES VISITEURS, with the two original stars, Jean Reno (THE PROFESSIONAL) and Christian Clavier (who co-wrote both films and is France's answer to Jim Carrey) reprising their roles. On the eve of his wedding, 12th Century knight Count .. Read more
| Starring | Jean Reno, Christian Clavier, Christina Applegate, Tara Reid |
|---|---|
| Director | Jean-Marie Poire |
| Genres | Comedy |
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French writer-director Jean-Marie Poire retools his 1993 European box-office hit comedy, LES VISITEURS, with the two original stars, Jean Reno (THE PROFESSIONAL) and Christian Clavier (who co-wrote both films and is France's answer to Jim Carrey) reprising their roles. On the eve of his wedding, 12th Century knight Count Thibault of Malfete (Reno), mistakenly kills his beloved Princess Rosalind (Christina Applegate), while under an evil spell. Grief-stricken, Thibault enlists a wizard (Malcolm McDowell) to send him back in time to avert the murder. When the wizard's potion malfunctions, Thibault and his faithful servant, Andre (Clavier) are deposited in 21st Century Chicago, where they meet museum curator Julia Malfete (Applegate), who is the living image of Rosalind. Believing Thibault to be an eccentric cousin, Julia takes the bewildered Frenchmen home, where they encounter (and destroy) a vast array of modern conveniences. Desperate to return to his proper time, Thibault enlists Julia's help against the wishes of her controlling, money-hungry fiance, Hunter (Matthew Ross). Meanwhile, Andre falls for a pretty, free-spirited gardener, Angelique (Tara Reid). This slapstick, fish-out-of-water comedy-fantasy introduces American audiences to one of the French film industry's most successful writer-director-comedian teams.
| Starring | Jean Reno, Christian Clavier, Christina Applegate, Tara Reid, Bridgette Wilson |
|---|---|
| Director | Jean-Marie Poire |
| Studio | MOMENTUM PICTURES |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 28 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Comedy |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Subtitles | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 05 Aug 2002 Production year: 2001 |
| Format | DVD |
Released in 1993, the time-travel farce Les Visiteurs became the highest grossing home-grown movie in French cinema history. The long delayed English-language remake from writer/director Jean-Marie Poiré (here credited as Jean-Marie Gaubert) utilises the same basic plot but relocates the action to America and increases the toilet-humour content at the expense of the original's rough charm. Tricked into poisoning his betrothed (Christina Applegate), 12th-century French nobleman Thibault Malfete (Jean Reno) gets a wizard (Malcolm McDowell) to concoct a potion to send him back in time to avert the tragedy. But Thibault and his idiot squire André (Christian Clavier) end up in modern-day Chicago where they meet Thibault's descendant Julia (Applegate again) and attempt to make sense of the modern world — an obvious cue for culture-clash gags involving blenders, television and horses on public transport. A limp re-tread of the spirited original, this definitely loses something in the translation.
The poor record of Hollywood remakes of French comedy smashes is scarcely enhanced by writer/director Gaubert's... read more on Time Out
I acually quite enjoyed this film (I have not seen the original French version). It was a bit of a chick-flick and the story-line was totally predictable, but was quite funny at times and has a 'feel good factor'. A good film to rent when you don't want to concentrate too hard!
This must be the low point of Jean Reno's career. This re-make of a funny French film has had the typical Hollywood treatment; it is utterly predictable and all the characters are shallow.
If you must have a pretty woman to look at, go and download a picture of Christina Applegate.
Watch the original French film, 'Les Visiteurs', in preference to this one unless you can't read subtitles or understand French.
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