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JUST
VISITING (PG-13)
Plot Summary: An 11th century French knight and his servant are transported to 21st century Chicago where they must find a way to return to their own time.
Reason for the Rating: Violence and crude humor.
In 1993, French writer/director Jean-Marie Poiré released Les
Visiteurs, a popular comedy about two Frenchmen who were transported from
the 11th century to the 20th. Now Touchstone Pictures has
remade the film in English as JUST VISITING,
hoping the idea will be as popular in America as it was in France.
Here’s the main story: In 11th century
England, a princess is about to marry a French nobleman, Count Thibault of
Malfete. But Thibault’s rival pays a witch to get rid of Thibault and clear
the way for him to seek the lady’s hand. The plan goes terribly awry and
Thibault and his servant Andre end up traveling to 21st century
Chicago. And so their adventure begins…
It took a long time for me to believe this was a comedy.
There is very little to laugh at in the first 20 minutes of the film. In fact,
the sorcery, the nightmare images caused by the potion, the violence, and the
grotesque wizardry effects make this film unsuitable for young viewers early on.
(Later, frequent cursing and one scene in which a seductress writhes on a table
to distract our heroine’s two-timing husband confirm this verdict.)
But
eventually the humor of the movie does come out. Jean Reno (Thibault) and
Christian Clavier (Andre, Thibault’s servant) are comical as fish very much
out of water. In the course of their travels, they attack a car (which they
think is a beast), destroy a television (attempting to free the tiny people
trapped inside), and wash themselves with toilet water. Their looks of wonder at
modern conveniences are almost worth the price of admission. Christina Applegate
(Mars Attacks!, A View from the Top) is also charming as Julia,
Thibault’s distant descendant and, in a double role, as his beloved Princess
Rosalind.
In the end, this is an amusing film with great special
effects and some memorable moments. But parents be aware, it does earn its PG-13
rating.
FamilyFans.com Recommends: Leave the kids with a sitter if you go see this one. Or, better yet, wait for the DVD.
After the Show…If members of your family choose to view this movie, use these questions to spark discussion about it afterward:
-- In JUST
VISITING, Andre is Thibault’s property. What do you think about a society
that promotes what amounts to human slavery? Do we have anything like that in
America today?
-- Would you rather live in the 21st century or
the 11th? Why?
-- Thibault makes Julia feel strong, but her husband makes
her feel weak. How do we make people around us feel weak or strong? What can you
do to make someone you love feel strong?
Jefferson Scott
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