Christina Applegate and Jean Reno in "Just Visiting."

MOVIE INFORMATION

With 10 as a must-see, we give this film a: Stars: Jean Reno, Christian Clavier and Christina Applegate Director: Jean-Marie Poire Rated: PG-13, with violence and crude humor Length: 88 minutes

ROCHESTERCRITIQUE

Having seen this film, how would you rate it? 10 5 9 4 8 3 7 2 6 1

By Chuck Graham
Gannett News Service

(April 6, 2001) -- Take the very funny 1993 French film Les Visiteurs starring magnificent Jean Reno and jam it full of silly computer-generated imagery but keep Reno in the starring role, and you've got the sprightly Just Visiting.

The Americanized version also stars comedian Christian Clavier, who co-wrote both pictures.

Reno plays the gallant 12th century Count Thibault Malfete. Clavier plays his lowly servant, Andre. The hilarity begins when a forgetful English wizard accidentally sends the Count and his aide forward into the 21st century, when they were only supposed to go a few hours back into time. Talk about a big "Oops!"

While the French version was pure farce, with the Count and Andre equally confused by indoor plumbing, automobiles and other modern conveniences, the American version does away with character development and leans too heavily on computer generated imagery to get more laughs.

But Reno cannot be denied. With his dark, sad eyes, burly body, hawk nose and weary voice, his screen personality is quite compelling. And it is because of Reno's performance that Just Visiting is lifted from the silly into something better.

Clavier, who wrote the screenplay with Jean-Marie Poire (who directed Les Visiteurs) with some help from John Hughes, is a slapstick master of befuddlement. His Americanization of Andre is quite effective.

Spotting a sidewalk hotdog stand, Andre rushes over and starts grabbing wieners.

"You like to eat hotdogs?" asks the startled vendor. "I like to eat every kind of dog," says Andre with great gusto.

Christina Applegate also gives her career a boost playing the dual roles of Rosalind, the Count's bride-to-be, and Julie Malfete of Chicago, a modern day descendant, who in April, 2000, is about to inherit the entire French castle and estate that once belonged to the Count.

Julie's sinister boyfriend wants her to sell the whole thing so she will have lots of money when they get married. But after the untimely arrival of Count Thibault and goofy Andre, Julie starts having second thoughts. The Count knows how to make her feel like a real lady even as he spends most of the picture trying to get back to his own time.