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Les Visiteurs Reviews

1993 DVD Certificate 15.gif
  • Rated:
  • 70
  • from 2995 members

Hoping to travel back in time to right an accidental slaying, a 12th-century knight and his bumbling squire are instead sent 900 years into the future. Once they get their 20th-century bearings, they set out to reclaim their castle (now a luxury hotel) and to figure out how to return to their own era. Read more

Starring Jean Reno, Christian Clavier, Valerie Lemercier, Christian Bujeau
Director Jean-Marie Poire
Genres Comedy, World Cinema

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  • Critics' reviews (3) of Les Visiteurs

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  • 3 stars out of 5

    The French have never been particularly prone to sequelitis, but Jean-Marie Poiré succumbed on this occasion and made a pretty fair job of re-creating both the madcap comedy and commercial success of the original. Opening with a neat illuminated manuscript reprise, the action darts back and forth through time, as 12th-century knight Jean Reno returns to the future to avert a curse on his forthcoming marriage. Just as Reno doubles up as a long-lost playboy, so Christian Clavier alternates between playing his mischievous vassal and a prissy estate manager, beset by wolves and the inquisition. Patchy, but energetically played and gleefully anarchic.

    • Radio Times
  • This quixotic time-travel movie comes on like a lunatic blend of Time Bandits, Tati and Benny Hill. Tall 12th century... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
  • 1 stars out of 4

    Broad farce that will appeal to lovers of Carry On films.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
  • Most helpful members' reviews (3) of Les Visiteurs

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  • 9 out of 9 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 2 stars

    french speaking....

    if you speak french the countess is hilarious. If you don't speak french... well too bad, the translation is not that good...

      • A customer from england
  • 9 out of 10 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    A truly classic French comedy

    "Les Visiteurs" has long been a favourite amongst french speaking people. It's a classic! It was so novel in its genre and it has audiences queuing for another viewing! Jean Reno and Christian Clavier are hilarious. The movie has an equally hilarious supporting cast, with some of the funniest French comedians around. I would recommend this film to anyone - though I have to point out that the subtitles aren't as funny as the french script.

      • JKmoviebuff from London
  • 6 out of 6 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    French comedy

    Wonderful much better than the hollywood remake

      • A customer from st.albans, England
  • Most recent members' reviews (2) of Les Visiteurs

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  • 6 out of 6 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    French comedy

    Wonderful much better than the hollywood remake

      • A customer from st.albans, England
  • 3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Excellent, though a tiny bit disappointed

    I saw this film on TV5 Europe in French (which I understand but not perfectly) over a year ago. Had just come across it while channel surfing and missed the first half hour or so. Was really looking forward to seeing it again, with subtitles and in its entirety.

    It is, in my opinion, very funny and recommended. However, this DVD is specifically for the English-speaking market and not exactly the same as the version I saw on TV, with some scenes missing. The only scene which I specifically remember that is missing is one where they are watching TV (referred to as 'boite de troubadours') but there are,I'm sure, other scenes also missing. The other slightly negative features are the rather American subtitles (by which I mean terminology, not just spelling) and the 4:3 format for a film which, on the basis of cropped credits at the end, was originally widescreen.

    Despite these little grumbles, it is still excellent and recommended. Next time I'm in France I may, if it's cheap, try to buy the original French version, which may not be edited and probably has (?better) English subtitles as an option.

      • A customer from Glasgow
  • 9 out of 9 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 2 stars

    french speaking....

    if you speak french the countess is hilarious. If you don't speak french... well too bad, the translation is not that good...

      • A customer from england
  • 9 out of 10 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    A truly classic French comedy

    "Les Visiteurs" has long been a favourite amongst french speaking people. It's a classic! It was so novel in its genre and it has audiences queuing for another viewing! Jean Reno and Christian Clavier are hilarious. The movie has an equally hilarious supporting cast, with some of the funniest French comedians around. I would recommend this film to anyone - though I have to point out that the subtitles aren't as funny as the french script.

      • JKmoviebuff from London
  • 6 out of 6 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    French comedy

    Wonderful much better than the hollywood remake

      • A customer from st.albans, England
  • 4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    This is an excellent, witty movie with superb performances by all. It stretches credulity a little, and I can imagine that a lot of people would simply find it irritating - but hopefully not enough to spoil what is really just a fun comic tale well told. I have to confess to laughiug out loud in many places. It is rather "French" which is hardly surprising!! I can imagine that, as one reviewer wrote, it must be much more enjoyable if one can do without the subtitles and then get all the subtlety of the original dialogue.I don't think I can recall a movie with Jean Reno that I havent enjoyed just for the pleasure of watching him in any role. If in doubt - try it.

      • INNES#1 from ST IVES
  • 3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 1 star

    If you like slapstick

    If you like slapstick humour, then you would love this. As for myself, I found little to laugh at and little of interest. Lovely countryside though.

      • Peter Brown from England
  • 3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Excellent, though a tiny bit disappointed

    I saw this film on TV5 Europe in French (which I understand but not perfectly) over a year ago. Had just come across it while channel surfing and missed the first half hour or so. Was really looking forward to seeing it again, with subtitles and in its entirety.

    It is, in my opinion, very funny and recommended. However, this DVD is specifically for the English-speaking market and not exactly the same as the version I saw on TV, with some scenes missing. The only scene which I specifically remember that is missing is one where they are watching TV (referred to as 'boite de troubadours') but there are,I'm sure, other scenes also missing. The other slightly negative features are the rather American subtitles (by which I mean terminology, not just spelling) and the 4:3 format for a film which, on the basis of cropped credits at the end, was originally widescreen.

    Despite these little grumbles, it is still excellent and recommended. Next time I'm in France I may, if it's cheap, try to buy the original French version, which may not be edited and probably has (?better) English subtitles as an option.

      • A customer from Glasgow
  • 3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    A ne pas manquer

    Un classique a voir et a revoir. Rien de tel que la version originale en Francais.

      • A customer from Dorset
  • 2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Brilliant. However much better if you speak French as it loses a lot in translation - there is a lot of word play.

      • Lisa#18 from CLITHEROE
  • 2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    So Funny

    I will never look at a yellow postman's van in the same way again. 'He rides in the devil's chariot'. But please watch this film and not the disasterous hollywood remake 'Just Visiting'. This is French gold. Even the title scene is side-splitting. This is one of the top three best foreign films I've seen, the other two being 'Amelie' (also French) and the brilliant 'Spirited Away' (Japanese). This is France's answer to 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail'. A great watch!

      • A customer from UK
  • Rated - 5 stars

    Great Movie

    Hilarious from start to finish.Worth watching.

    BUT be careful not to make the mistake to watch JUST VISITING as it's an american remake and is not that funny.

      • A customer from Winchester, UK.
  • Critics' reviews (3)

  • 3 stars out of 5

    The French have never been particularly prone to sequelitis, but Jean-Marie Poiré succumbed on this occasion and made a pretty fair job of re-creating both the madcap comedy and commercial success of the original. Opening with a neat illuminated manuscript reprise, the action darts back and forth through time, as 12th-century knight Jean Reno returns to the future to avert a curse on his forthcoming marriage. Just as Reno doubles up as a long-lost playboy, so Christian Clavier alternates between playing his mischievous vassal and a prissy estate manager, beset by wolves and the inquisition. Patchy, but energetically played and gleefully anarchic.

    • Radio Times
  • This quixotic time-travel movie comes on like a lunatic blend of Time Bandits, Tati and Benny Hill. Tall 12th century... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
  • 1 stars out of 4

    Broad farce that will appeal to lovers of Carry On films.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide

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    • Hoping to travel back in time to right an accidental slaying, a 12th-century knight and his bumbling squire are instead sent 900 years into the future. Once they get their 20th-century bearings, they ...

Rating breakdown

2,995 Member ratings
  • 100
402
  • 90
288
  • 80
552
  • 70
506
  • 60
497
  • 50
271
  • 40
182
  • 30
129
  • 20
117
  • 10
51

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