Taglines: They Came. They Saw. They Wanna Go Back.
Lots of people find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time, but this comic fantasy takes that notion to a whole new level. Count Thibault of Malfete (Jean Reno) is a brave warrior and respected nobleman in 12th century France. Count Thibault has won the heart of the lovely Princess Rosalind (Christina Applegate) and has a loyal servant in the loyal but half-bright Andre (Christian Clavier). But Thibault’s world is turned upside down when an aging wizard demonstrates a new potion that can allow people to travel though time.
The concoction works a bit too well, and Thibault and Andre find themselves transported to the year 2000, landing in a museum in Chicago where relics of Thibault’s reign are on display. Julia, a museum employee who bears a striking resemblance to Princess Rosalind, finds the visitors and becomes their unofficial guide to life in the Windy City at the dawn of the 21st century.
Thibault soon discovers that the young woman is actually descended from his family, and he realizes he has to get back to the 12th century before his absence prevents Julia from existing. Andre also discovers that indentured servitude is no longer common in the 21st century, and he and Thibault have to adjust to the American notion of freedom and equal rights for all.
Just Visiting is a 2001 comedy film that is an American remake of the French film Les Visiteurs. It stars Jean Reno, Christina Applegate, Christian Clavier, Malcolm McDowell, Tara Reid, and Bridgette Wilson. It is about a medieval knight and his serf who travel to 21st century Chicago, meeting the knight’s descendant. Unlike the original film, the remake was successful neither in France nor in the United States.
About the Story
The backstory takes place in 12th century England, where Lord Thibault Malféte is about to marry Princess Rosalind, the daughter of the reigning King. At the wedding banquet, by mistake, an enemy known as the Earl of Warwick gives Thibault a potion which makes him hallucinate (and which was actually intended for Rosalind by a witch hired and paid by the Earl), and under its influence, he kills his own bride (rather than her father, as in the French version) believing she is a ferocious monster.
While under sentence of death, he asks his servant, André Le Paté (Christian Clavier) to find a wizard (Malcolm McDowell) to help him. The wizard gives him a potion that will send him back to the moment before he killed Princess Rosalind. The incompetent wizard botches the spell, and instead, Thibault and Andre are sent into the 21st century.
They end up in a museum in Chicago where they are arrested by the police. They are rescued by Julia Malféte (Christina Applegate), a museum employee who closely resembles Princess Rosalind. She thinks that Thibault is her distant French cousin who drowned while yachting a couple of years ago.
Thibault soon finds out that Julia is descended from his family and realizes he must return to the 12th century to correct the past. Julia introduces them to the modern American style of life where norms from medieval times no longer apply. Before the return to his time, Thibault decides to protect Julia from her money-hungry fiance, Hunter (Matt Ross). Meanwhile, Andre falls for a pretty gardener, Angelique (Tara Reid) who presents him with the world of equal rights for all people.
Just Visiting (2001)
Directed by: Jean-Marie Poiré
Starring: Jean Reno, Christina Applegate, Christian Clavier, Tara Reid, Matt Ross, Bridgette Wilson-Sampras, Malcolm McDowell, Martin Aistrope, Naomi Armstrong
Screenplay by: Jean-Marie Poiré, Christian Clavier
Cinematography by: Doug Kraner
Costume Design by: Penny Rose
Set Decoration by: Tracey A. Doyle
Art Direction by: John D. Jefferies Sr., Jonathan McKinstry
Makeup Department: Muriel Baurens, Elaine M. Cascio
Music by: Nick Glennie-Smith, John Powell
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for violence and crude humor.
Distributed by: Buena Vista Pictures, Gaumont
Release Date: April 6, 2001 (United States), April 11, 2001 (France)
Visits: 324
