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A Good Remake?
Two years ago, plans were being made to remake the French film Les Visiteurs. It scared me to death. The film is still the reigning box-office champ of all-time in France and is considered a classic. It was then announced that Jean Reno and Christian Clavier would reprised their role from the original film. It intrigued me greatly. I've been a huge fan of Jean Reno and his transition to the American Cinema has been wonderful. Christian Clavier is considered one of France's most talented comedians. He recently played Asterix in the big-screen adaptation of the classic French comic-book Asterix and Obelix vs. Cesar. How would his humor translate in another language? Here's two reviews of the possible sleeper hit film:
'The Visitors' Test Screening Reviews
"I once read a comic strip which stated the two rules of film criticism. "1. No movie is ever as good as the book it is based on. And, 2. No movie is ever as good as the French movie it is based on." And this is generally true - especially with the latter. La Femme Nikita is infinitely better than its American counterpart Point of No Return, and Father's Day is infinitely worse than its (good but somewhat less than brilliant) French counterpart Mes Comperes. But, occasionally, America comes up with a remake that is at least on par with the original, and a worthy film in its on right. For instance... well, actually only three come to mind: Down and Out In Beverly Hills, The Birdcage, and The Visitors.
A remake of the French film Les Visiteurs, The Visitors wisely uses the same talent behind the original French hit, including its director, co-writer, and two stars, Jean Reno (Mission:Impossible, Ronin) and Christian Clavier. This film also marks the comedic comeback of co-writer (for the American version) John Hughes, who hasn't contributed to an honest-to-God funny movie since the first Home Alone. The plot is exceedingly simple, and luckily for the audience never gets mired in its own contrivances. It simply moves from one humorous situation to the next taking the plot along with it almost as an afterthought. Medieval nobleman Jean Reno and his squire Christian Clavier pay a magician (played well by Malcolm McDowell) to send them back through time in order to set a wrong right. However, the magician forgets an ingredient in his potion and accidentally sends them into present day Chicago, where they meet Reno's ancestor (Christina Applegate), and her scheming, two-timing ass of a boyfriend (Matt Ross). The magician then goes forth to find them and bring them back so that they might complete their mission. Simple, right?
The key to this movie's charm is its delight in the small moments. All but gone are the popular comedy conventions of broad toilet humor. Of course, some grossness is there, but the funniest moments come from the smaller scenes. Reno and Clavier getting motion sickness at 20 miles per hour. Their screams of fear when someone turns on a light switch. Or the delivery of otherwise merely droll lines such as (at a French restaurant) - Clavier: 'I have to pee!' Reno: 'Then go outside!' Clavier: 'But the wolves will get me!' Also the use of CGI was very well handled and funny. It's nice to see a director not slobbering all over themselves to fill the film with unnecessary special effects shots.
This film marks Christian Clavier's American debut and it is hard to imagine him not showing up in more films this side of the Atlantic after this performance. He all but stole the film with his perpetual inability to grasp the principle of car doors, or his destructive fear of a car radio playing Ricky Martin. (Oddly enough, I was the only one clapping at that song's demise.) But this movie would have been lost without Jean Reno. Reno may be best known for his action films right now, but his inherent sweetness and stubborn nobility made this film the quality piece of comedy it is, rather than the heartless, over-silly situation comedy it could have been. Malcolm McDowell also has his funniest (intentional) performance to date, with his keen fashion sense being particularly memorable. Christina Applegate and Matt Ross are fine, if not spectacular, and Bridgette Wilson, in the thankless supporting role of Ross' other girlfriend, does what is required of her (i.e. shaking her bon-bons) and little else. Oh, Tara Reid was there too, playing Clavier's love interest, and though she didn't have much of a part she was pretty good as well.
While there were flaws in this film they were extremely forgivable. The pacing at times seemed weird, especially around key plot points (like someone being convinced that they really are from the past, and so on), which were... well... not rushed, because they had time to register, but they didn't linger on the issue like most American films do. This isn't so much bad, as different. The more I think about it, in fact, the more I like that aspect of the film, because it assumed the audience was smart enough to get what was going on without shoving it in our faces. More often than not in comedies these days, the audience knows what is going to happen before the characters do, and the tension builds from that. This movie breezes past that kind of stuff, leaving a film that doesn't have much tension (with the notable exception of a scene in the beginning), but is nonetheless very enjoyable.
Okay, so that wasn't really a flaw so much as a divergence from the norm. In that case the flaw really came at the end, in which each of the characters endings either seemed rushed or drawn out. (They spent too much time on some characters, but not enough on the others.) Also, they desperately needed a final (and obvious) joke involving the villain's punishment, but the interviewers at the end seemed very receptive to that comment, so hopefully it could be fixed by the time The Visitors comes out.
All in all a very good comedy that was funny without being insulting (a rarity these days). A harmless comedy for families. (It will probably end up being PG-13, but I will say right now that it is a very mild PG-13.) And the ultimate recommendation: I look forward to seeing it again when it comes out. Good movie."
(Review provided by 'Hollyfeld'.)
Review #2
"Your favorite traveling soap salesman is back in town and after dropping by the old house on Paper St, I made my way to Pasadena for a screening of The Visitors.
It is amazing that the Film Preview People seem to have so much fun being so restrictive... having everyone sign forms promising they will not disclose details... as if I used my real name... which last night was Robert Paulson.
As for the movie... The Visitors was good... it was really good and made up for the stomach pains I got when I saw The Art of War a few months back. Here is a quick breakdown of the plot and the main stars.
THE PLOT: The great French knight Thibault is to be married to the daughter of the English King, Rosaline. However, the jealous Earl of Warrick has visited a witch and gotten a potion to foul up the wedding and get Thibault killed. When Thibault accidentally drinks the potion, he has crazed visions and accidentally kills Rosaline. Thibault snaps out of it and is quickly condemned to death. With the aid of his trusty peasant Andre and a Wizard, Thibault attempts to save his love by returning back in time. Yet the wizard forgets the to add quail eggs to the secret potion and Thibault and Andre become lost in the 'Mountain of Time' and end up in... Chicago in the year 2000.
THE CAST:
The Noble Thibault: I had no idea Jean Reno had any gift for comedy... but he was superb in this film. He really plays up the image of a rich nobleman but lends simplicity and vision to the role. His only fault may be that he deals with the realization that he has been sent to the future too well. In the end, I really liked this guy.
The Smelly Peasant Andre: Christian Clavier really helps carry this film and his role as the loyal peasant was right on. His physical comedy is superb and he really helps Reno carry the simple script with superb acting. This could be a real break for him.
Lady Rosaline/Julia: Christina Applegate gets double duty in this pic by playing Thibault's great love in the Lady Rosaline and his great-great-great... cousin Julia in the future. She was witty and funny and while she doesn't carry the film, she lends it some heart and soul. Just don't call her a 'bunny.'
Hunter: This is Julia's adulterous fiancé played by Matt Ross and he is awesome in the film. He really makes the most of every scene he is in and his interaction with Reno and Clavier was great.
The Wizard: I didn't even recognize Malcolm McDowell as the Wizard, but he was funny and mysterious and did a good job in a very limited role.
Angelique the Gardner: A real surprise to see Tara Reid in the film because in reality she was miscast. As a matter of fact, she was horrible and I literally wanted to see her sent to the headsmen. She plays a simple gardener in the future and eventually becomes Andre's love interest. I just thought she was crappy...
I don't want to get into the whole story too much because I would ruin a lot of fun surprises in the film. It looked like a finished cut and ran only an hour and a half, which was perfect because there was really only one scene that sucked (A peasant leading a mambo line in a dance club... please!!!). Just imagine what it would be like to get magicked 700 years into the future... everything would be a shock... everything... and The Visitors does a good job of using this idea to really make an audience laugh. A good job of keeping the storyline as simple as possible because to try and explain the complexity would have really hurt the film.
I am interested to see how this film is marketed because its only chance of making any money is word of mouth. There are no huge cast members (though I am a big fan of Reno) to carry in the fans. Keep your eyes and ears open for this film though because only a stinking, rotting corpse would not enjoy it. I challenge anyone to a fist-eating match if you disagree with me on this one. Go see this film... you will not be wasting your money.
Did you know that when you mix a pinch of sulfur with a handful of bat guano and some gibberish words you get a fireball?"
(Review provided by 'Tyler Durden'.)
Stay tuned...
That's all folks...
Jean-François Allaire (aka DeadPool)
Questions, comments, praise etc. Email me at deadpool@tnmc.org
Jean-François Allaire is TNMC's first columnist. At only 24 years old he has become a respected entertainment journalist, with his columns appearing in Corona's Coming Attractions and Scr(i)pt magazine. He also writes a monthly column in Screenwriters Monthly entitled 'The Last Word.' Hailing from Montreal this young writer is determined to dig up all the details on the movies before they hit your local theater. If you're part of a movie production then you really need to be talking to him.
