happybonzo2002
"O-Kayyy!" - one of the many phrases that stick in one's subconscious from this film; more on that shortly As every one else has pointed out, this a time travel film but it is done with such a deftness of touch that it makes some Hollywood offerings look clumsy by comparison. The film is subtitled but the translation have been done with terrific skill. My French is just about up to the dialogue and who-ever did the work has managed to keep the humour throughout. I like the film so much that I even bought a DVD copy of both Les Visiteurs 1 and 2. Returning to "O-Kayyy!" - I was on a very busy Aires de Service in France. I was asked if I wanted the water tap turning off and without thinking shouted the reply of "O-Kayyy!" Two French, One Dutch and one German couple all collapsed with laughter. Later that evening we ran Les Visiteurs 1 on the laptop for them. The result is four friendships that have endured for more than 6 years Yes, Les Visiteurs 1 and 2are truly cinematic greats
Petri Pelkonen
The year is 1123.A knight and his servant are accidentally sent to the year 1992.These medieval people are pretty much like fish out of water in the modern society.Les Visiteurs (1993) is a comedy film directed by Jean-Marie Poiré.It stars Christian Clavier and Jean Reno.Clavier plays the servant Jacquouille la Fripouille and also his relative of the 90's, Jacquard.Reno plays the part of Godefroy de Papincourt, Comte de Montmirail.Valérie Lemercier does a double role playing Godefroy's love interest Frénegondé de Pouille and the descendant Beatrice de Montmirail.Marie-Anne Chazel plays Ginette la Clocharde.Isabelle Nanty is Fabienne Morlot.I borrowed this movie a little while back from the library.I had seen the film once before, back in 1997.I enjoyed watching it the both times.It was a big hit.So big that it got a sequel and an American version.The movie has many funny slapstick moments, like when those two wash their hands in a toilet and when they cause a flood in the house.This is a very nice time travel movie.The Americans have Back to the Future, the French have The Visitors.You can visit this movie more than once.
lecapitaineasperge
I'm french, and i gotta say that i'm really pleased with all the positive comments and feedbacks about this movie, who has become cult in my country. Pretty simple starting idea, making a middle-age knight and his servant time-travel to nowadays, but the result is extremely funny. What i want to say is also that, and many people mentioned it, a huge part of the humor in the movie comes from the mix of the modern french and this old time french language which is extremely funny to hear, cause we (french) aren't used to hear it often.As for the acting, well its amazing : the duo Reno/Clavier just made this movie great, but the supporting characters are also very good (Lemercier, etc ..)A lot of lines in this movie have become famous in my country ("Merci la gueuse ! T'es un laideron mais t'es bien bonne !"), and just by reminding of this movie, i'm laughing out loud, alone in front of my screen :DOne of the best french comedy ever.
derzu_uzala
I guess the main thing to be said about "les Visiteurs" is that it hardly makes sense for a non-French-speaking audience to watch it. I shudder to think what it sounds like dubbed, for instance. Plus the elements of French satire are probably not transposable elsewhere.I laughed to tears when I viewed "les Visiteurs" when it was released in France 15 years ago, where it was an immediate box-office hit. Now I must admit it mostly brings a smile there and there. Of course it's me being 15 years older but the movie just hasn't aged well. The directing is mediocre at best, the cheap CGI is horrendous, and Marie-Anne Chazel's character as a tramp grates on one's nerves. There still remains the altogether funny plot, the hilarious performances by Reno, Clavier and Lemercier, as well as the (then) cult dialogs.Watcheable if you like French comedies, but don't get your hopes too high. In the same vein "Les Bronzés" (part I & II) is far superior. And incidentally Les Visiteurs part II was embarrassingly bad.
AD
