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Just Visiting | Year: 2001 Directed: - Jean-Marie Poiré - Jean-Marie Gaubert Actors/Actresses: - Jean Reno - Christina Applegate - Christian Clavier - Bridgette Wilson Just Good: Not So Bad Remake of French Comedy It is not unusual that films made outside America is remade with the original cast ("My Father the Hero" for instance") or with the original director ("Vanishing" and "Nightwatch"). But "Just Visiting," a French hit comedy, brings back both of them, from its original "Vistors": the leading duo, Jean Reno and Christian Clavier, and director Jean-Marie Poire. Though the result is not as good as it should be, the film has some good and hilarious moments for anyone, especially when he/she can heartily laugh at somebody else's miserable day. Jean Reno is a knight living 900 years ago, whose finance is lovely Christina Applegate. However, he accidentally kills her because of a witch's magic portion, and learns that he has to travel back to the time before he is tricked into that atrocious action. So, with a help from good magician Malcom McDowell, he is supposed to travel back to the past with his ever-faithful (and forever stinking) servant Christian Clavier through the time corridor, only to find themselves carried to modern-day Chicago by mistake! This typical fish-out-of-water situation is used to the full, beginning with dead-serious Reno attacking a car, mistaking it for a red dragon. A kind curator Applegate (double role) takes them under her wing, at first mistaking them for her missing cousin, but soon learns that these guys in weird costumes are much more troublesome existence than she thought, messing around everything in her life. To be honest, I didn't find the original French film so funny as people say. Probably that is because I don't buy the idea of the characters' receiving those noisy guests without much complaint. Some would find their wacky attitudes are too irritating and annoying before they remember that it is just a comedy, and they are not to be blamed. If you're a kind of person who prefers subtle, gentle touch to "Home Alone" like physical gags, you should stay away from this one. (And one of the co-writers happens to be John Hughes.) The sub-plot about Applegate's own unfaithful fiance is just useless, and because of that plot, there is no chance for us to see chemistry between Reno and her. Eqaully regrattable is the unexpectedly gentle relation between Tara Reid and Clavier, which should have been explored more. It is interesting, finally, to see the difference between the original French version and the American one. If you get a chance, just watch the original, which is much wackier than the remake. Clavier in Chicago, for instance, is supposed to be dirty -- every character says so -- while he in fact seems very clean. Look at the French one; he IS really, truly dirty. Wish it could stay longer... There have been many shows where something from the past gets thrown into the future, or where something from the future gets thrown into the past. Either way, it usually gets jumbled up. Just Visiting, however, makes up nicely for all the other flops. The plot follows a medieval knight and his faithful servant as they struggle through the complexities of everday life on a conquest to return to their original time era. The story is wonderfully involving and equally interesting, beginning to end. Just Visiting also has top-notch acting and some great special effects. Yet the highest point of this film is its substantial humor. This show is funny, hands down! I feel Just Visiting is a fair representation of what happens when you mix past culture with pop culture. A delightful, entertaining, and very well-executed show. It will leave you wanting more... and that's just what it should do, too. Man, was this funny! This movie was so funny. I hadn't had a good laugh for a while. This movie, starring Jean Reno(Godzilla, The Professional and Ronin) as the hero back at the end of 12th century, and his dopy assistant accidentally get sent into the next millenium. His dopy assistant runs into a lovely character in the future(Tara Reid) and falls in love. Finally, giving him a chance to be free. Meanwhile, Jean Reno's character finds his great, great, great, great, great grand-daughter. He thinks it's the same one he married back in the 12th century, until he realizes the wizard sent him into the future. Not as good as Back To The Future, but still funny. This is a great recommendation, I loved it, especially Tara Reid! Buy Just Visiting at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  Search with Walhello on the Internet on Just Visiting Search with the Priority Search Engine on Just Visiting This page in other languages: Suomeksi | Nederlands | Deutsch
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