JUST VISITING

US/France, 2001, 88 minutes, Colour.
Jean Reno, Christina Applegate, Christian Clavier, Matt Ross, Tara Reid, Bridgette Wilson, George Plimpton, Malcolm Mc Dowell.
Directed by Jean -Marie Poire (under the name of Jean -Marie Gobert).

Just Visiting is an American remake of a very popular French film of the early 90s, The Visitors. Jean Reno and Christian Clavier were the stars of that film as well as a 1998 sequel. They collaborated with the director of both films for this American version.

The Visitors seemed to tickle the French funnybone – though it was a bit farcical for audiences outside France. This American remake continues the farcical aspects of the film.

The setting is the early Middle Ages in France. An evil British duke wants to kill his rival and marry the daughter of the king. He consults a witch. However, the potion has the effect of sending the knight and his attendant into the 21st century. There is the usual, Crocodile Dundee-like, comedy of strangers in an American city. They are bewildered, make a mess of things, are overwhelmed by the technology – of cars and speed, of lifts, of toilet bowls…

They both meet up with attractive girls, the attendant who makes a fool of himself in public but seems to get away with it, meets a young woman (Tara Reid) who tames him and persuades him to stay in the present. The knight meets one of his descendants who works at the museum and is able to extricate her from her plotting fiancé. He also is able to get back with the help of the wizard who made the mistake in the first place and who also turns up in the present (Malcolm McDowell).

Christian Clavier contributed to the writing as well as the performance as the servant. Jean Reno makes the action a bit more credible with his strong screen presence. However, many audiences will find this a hit-and-miss film.

1.Time travel? Popular in films? From the Middle Ages to the present?

2.The re-creation of Mediaeval France, the English duke, the witch and her house? The court, the banquet? Costumes and décor? Thibault and his place in the court, his engagement to Rosalind? The confrontation with the duke? The potion, his going berserk, killing Rosalind? His fleeing with Andre, the encounter with the wizard, the wizard able to transform them – but leaving out one of the ingredients and sending them into the 21st century?

3.Rosalind, her love for Thibault, her place in the court? Her shock at being killed?

4.The museum, the children and the teachers, Thibault and Andre waking up? Everybody’s alarm? Doctor Brady and his keeping control in the museum? Consulting Julia? The escape of Thibault and Andre into the city?

5.The jokes about Mediaeval people finding the 21st century: the people, the language, the museum, the elevator, cars and being car sick at a slow speed, the food and manners at eating in restaurants, Thibault throwing food to the servant on the floor, the plans for the selling of the castle? The humour and farce of these jokes?

6.Julia, being a descendant? The issue of the castle in France, her cousin dying in the boating accident? Hunter and his engagement, wanting to manage the sale, his two-timing Julia with Amber? His obnoxious character? His being exposed by Thibault, the confrontation and chase, his being literally kicked out? Amber, her disappointment? The femme fatale?

7.Andre, meeting Angelique, the jokes at the gate, the boss and Andre humiliating him? Angelique and her helping Andre, buying the clothes, the car, pawning the jewels? His decision to be free, telling Thibault, going with Angelique to Las Vegas?

8.Julia, making allowances for all the strange behaviour, loyal to her family? At the restaurant, in the house and her being covered in food? The bath, the toilet…? Hunter’s reaction?

9.The wizard, his being inept, coming into the 21st century, able to manage, finding the ingredients, able to get everybody back to the Middle Ages?

10.The enjoyment of this kind of contrast between Middle Ages and the present? The realisation of how things change? The technology and abilities of the 21st century? The blend of comic seriousness and farce?