Les Visiteurs (1993) - film review

In days of old when knights were bold and witch-burning was a regular Saturday night fixture, the Comte de Montmirail, Godefroy le Hardy, accidentally blights his wedding plans by killing a relation of his future bride.  He enlists the aid of a sorcerer to transport him and his vassal, Jacquoille, back in time a few hours so he can prevent the murder from taking place.  Unfortunately, the sorcerer has made a mistake and the Godefroy and Jacquoille find themselves in modern day France.  The two fugitives from the 12th century have to come to terms with all the paraphernalia of modern life, from low-flying aircraft to cling film, from toilets to telephones.   Godefroy then encounters a woman who is descendent from his intended bride and, worse, discovers that Jacquoille’s descendent now owns the Count’s former castle, running it as a hotel.  However, time is rapidly running out for our two heroes if they want to return home to their own time...

The plot would appear ludicrous, but the film succeeds admirably and, in terms of box office receipts, was one of the most successful films made in France.  The humour is fresh and original, although English viewers would note a very strong similarity with Monthy Python’s Search for the Holy Grail and the first Blackadder series.

Christian Clavier excels in both of his roles and demonstrates his worth as a great comic actor.  By contrast, Jean Reno’s performance is a little wooden, but as the straight man to Clavier’s antics, the pairing works well.

The script is tirelessly funny throughout, although the plotting is overall quite clumsy in places.  The scene in the toilet is of legendary character, and the ending is exquisite.

Unfortunately, they had to make a sequel, Les Couloirs du Temps, which, despite some very funny moments, was hardly in the same league as the original film.

© James Travers 1998

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