Die Besucher - Sturm auf die Bastille

In 1998, "The Visitors" saga concluded on a rather frustrating cliffhanger. Godefroy the Brave (Jean Reno) and his faithful servant Jacquouille (Christian Clavier) were, once again, misdirected in the corridors of time and left prisoners during the French Revolution. The film ended on a note that seemed to say "we don't care for continuity as long as there's a gag" (as if our beloved medieval characters in a cage would be a pleasing sight).

Still, the film met with commercial success, but apart from the American remake (which I thought was better), it seemed like the director, Jean-Marie Poiré, the actors and certainly the spectators were done with "The Visitors". Until 2015 when the first teasers of two aging and uglier-looking Godefroy and Jacquouille made it clear that "The Visitors" would finally make a trilogy, how about that?

On the positive side, I thought it was inevitable since they had to come back to their time. Besides, there was no way it could be worse than the sequel and maybe the writers' team made of Poiré and Christian Clavier had time to prepare an entertaining and funny story that wouldn't rely on cheap jokes and special effects. On the other hand, I was afraid the film would be an attempt to give a 2010's flavor to the series by inserting so many 'trendy' stars (the casting of bankable Frank Dubosc and Ary Arbittan didn't reassure me). But I didn't have time to set up my anticipations as the first negative signals started to ring: no premiere, the Press couldn't watch the film before the release, talk about self-confidence.

And then came the (vengeful?) critics: a cinematic disappointment with an overuse of poo-poo jokes, an insistence on bad smell even more incongruous in the unhygienic context of the Revolution. More constructive critics denounced the disjointed aspect of the scenario, the overdose of artificial lighting to suggest night and the wooden acting of Reno who seemed more absent than usual. But the criticism that worried me the most was that: the film had no end. Whatever it meant, it really set my worries high and my expectations low, very low.

The start was promising though with the summaries of the previous films crawling à la "Star Wars", I didn't expect to smile so early. Then we're put in the Middle-Ages, paler and more pastel tones than in the first films, Godefroy and Jacquouille make a spectacular yet confusing entrance, since they're supposed to be in 1793. Indeed, it was all a dream by one of the soldiers. Later, the King orders them to find Godefroy, otherwise, his lands will be taken and he'll have no descendants. Why did they bother with that subplot since Godefroy had a mission already? As uninspired as it was, Godefroy was supposed to come back, marry Frénégonde, give her some sacred relic and close the corridors of time to prevent the plague. No continuity isn't such a big deal, but so early, it makes you expect the worst.

But I guess, I've been so thoroughly prepared for this worst that as long as they were not shown defecating on the screen or farting on others' faces, it was okay. At the end, it wasn't too bad. Actually, I've been even pleasantly surprised that the film contained more restrained part than the sequel, moments full of verbal interactions about the Revolution, classes, human rights and other 'hip' stuff, that and a great dinner scene with Robespierre (played by a chilling Nicolas Vaude). It's true the two protagonists were left behind for a while, but at least the film remained consistent with its subtitle.

And while there were a few nice nods to the original film: Marie-Anne Chazel in the cast, Godefroy being again mistaken for a distant cousin and so forth, it is true that the film insisted upon itself when it came to the smell and fecal jokes, even lengthy conversations were on the same register, like one between between the Brave and a pompous Italian aristocrat played by Arbittan, something about the honor to wipe the Royal ass. Ten seconds is the limit to maintain such a joke, but the film gratifies us with so many references to odors or feet, that it almost spilled over the script. It came to a point I was breathing heavily when Jacquouille had to serve a chocolate pie to Marat.

But on a more positive side, I liked the way this film connected with the first where 'Revolution' was a preeminent theme, one that even inspired Jacquouille to stay. It also showed his descendant, one of Robespierre's under-bosses, taking his former masters' land, thus starting his family's fortune. Even Dubosc, more restrained than usual, shone as Gonzague de Montmirail, referenced many times in the first. The others Montmirails were not foils for Clavier's antics, and happened to be so interesting that we didn't need Godefroy and Jacquouille on screen. Indeed, they provided great insights about the revolution from their own standpoint. They're the refugees and citizens, from the people, are eager to denounce them for money.

When you know the historical weight of 'denunciation' in France, the film doesn't quite honor the Revolution. And who knows maybe this revisionism appaled the oh-so republican press, who branded the film as reactionary. But it was gutsy to have such a taboo-breaking approach, it just get diluted in too many jokes and twists that the film inevitably failed to deliver its premise. Worse, it indeed didn't have time to end, and what could have been a terrific redeemer made it worse. Even as a joke, the ending could have worked, but the film suffers from the eternal syndrome of French comedy: rushed ending.

The ending (or lack of) wasn't without a meaning, and a strong one, but I wish they had time to rework the film, a few scenes cut, a few adds, it could have been something.

Look, what did you expect? Les Visiteurs (1993) is one of the most successful, funniest French films of the 20th century, it couldn't be topped with a sequel, especially if it's part 3, 25 years later. At least it:

a) Stayed loyal to the timeline, giving us some closure on what happened after the end credits of the second movie; b) Brought something new to the mix; c) Some jokes were actually pretty funny;

It probably could have been done better if done with younger, more energetic actors, but then all the "familiar faces" gags go to crap, unless the movie's gonna spend a good portion of it establishing new actors in the roles of familiar characters.

It ended on another great chapter in French history, an interesting crossover, and it's fun to speculate what would happen to Godefroy and Jacquouille next.

All in all, I'm glad they made something with that cliffhanger they left us with back in 1998. They didn't mess it up too hard, it's part 3 for god's sake, for a part 3 it's ok.

Eighteen years after "The Visitors II" left us with the cliffhanger, the third film comes as a total disappointment. The story is a direct continuation of "The Corridors of Time" and it's well conceived and written, but the film is not at all funny, and it seems to me that it's not even trying to be. By itself, it might be able to pass with a six, but after the previous two, this is totally lame and it would be better for the franchise if they didn't make it at all.

4/10

Inferior follow-up with the usual premise of the time travel with entertaining scenes, crazy things and lots of fun. Inferior and disconcerting continuation with tiring scenes, boredom and the same elements as the previous ones. Lots of fun with two inseparable medieval men traveling through of the time and space, and results to be amusing enough . Knight Godefroy de Montmirail and squire Jacquouille are stranded in 1793. Using trickery to break free from their shackles, both perilously partake in the Montmirail family's run away in the quest for an exiting time-shift. Jean Reno as stubborn, proud medieval knight who wants to marry a noblewoman by any means and Christian Clavier as his whaky, hectic servant, both of whom playing a fully sympathetic and outrageous couple. In this entry they're hurtled into an epoch of political and social upheavals: The French Revolution. In order to return to the 12th century and deal with the spell, they begin to look for a wizard. Too bad the potion hurls knight and vassal into a lot of nutty adventures and crossing paths with their lookalike descendants. The film contains breathtaking special effects , adding a nice cinematography and lively musical score. In 11th century a honorable knight (Jean Reno) and his distraught but loyal servant (Christian Clavier) They attempt to enlist the aid of their descendent to try to find a way to return home, but things go wrong. Try to go back in time, only one thing will stand in their way, the French Revolution !. They Weren't Born Yesterday! They Came. They Saw. They Wanna Go Back. They're not just from another time, they're from France!.

It is a silly and tiresome sequel in which, as usual, the characters do nothing but talk and talk and very quickly, in such a way that you cannot understand what they are saying. An embarrassing and funny French film dealing with a medieval nobleman and his zany squire are accidentally transported to French Revolution by a potion created by a senile sorcerer. Trapped in the labyrinths of time, Godefroy de Montmiral and his devoted footman become involved into dangers, confusion and chaos. And more precisely The Reign of Terror, appearing some historical roles as Jean-Paul Marat, Fouché, Maximilien Robespierre, Louis VI 'le Gros', king of France and during which the descendants of Jacquouille La Fripouille, enthusiastic revolutionaries, confiscate the castle and wealth of Godefroy de Montmirail's descendants, arrogant aristocrats who are trying to escape from France, where their lives hang in the balance. The trio formed by director Jean-Marie Poiré and actors Jean Reno and Christian Clavier had already performed ¨Operation Corner Beef¨ three years earlier. In 1993 they returned to the fray with their physical and gross humor, this time based on the contrast of two very different eras: the medieval and the contemporaryma. A lightweight plot, but the loony pals played by Reno and Clavier sink their teeth into the time-travel jokes and it turns out a fun and enjoyable experience. The picture is a fantasy comedy with action, giggles, tongue-in-cheek and is pretty entertained. The main amusement is to watch how our two protagonists react to the revolutionaries, but they always manage to take it one step further, resulting in unexpected consequences. Jean Reno and barmy Christian Clavier make a completely surrealist and delight duo playing a geeky and stupid duo while trying to cope with other ages which makes the humor spontaneous and genuinely funny. Cracky Reno is the proud, brave medieval lord and Clavier as his dazed, distraught vassal and the film manages itself to be endearing as well as thoroughly crazy. They're well accompanied by a nice support cast, such as:Karin Viard, Franck Dubosc, Alex Lutz, Sylvie Testud, Marie-Anne Chazel, Nicolas Vaude, among others. Rating: 3.5/10. Lousy sequel.

The motion picture obtained success in the French box-office and in the video rentals, the series formed by 4 films, all of them directed by Jean-Marc Poiré and performed by Jean Reno and Christian Clavier. The first: ¨Les visiteurs¨(1993), 1123, Dark Ages, in 100 year War ,during the reign of 'Louis VI The Fat' something goes awry and our starring transported from the 12th century to the year 2000, where they meet some of the knight's family, and slowly learn what the future's like; surprisingly, the film became a huge hit both in France and internationally, becoming one of the most successful films in the entire history of French cineema. ¨Les couloirs du temps: Les visiteurs II¨ (1998) by Jean-Marie Poiré with Christian Clavier, Jean Reno , Muriel Robin, Marie-Anne Chazel, Frank Olivier. An american version ¨Just Visiting¨ (2001) with Jean Reno, Christina Applegate,Christian Clavier, Matt Ross , Tara Reid, Bridgette Wilson, George Plimpton, Malcolm McDowell Malcolm McDowell, directed by Jean-Marie Poiré who hated the movie, and mentioned that this was the reason why the third movie of the original French trilogy took so long to be made. ¨Les visiteurs: La révolution¨ (2016) with Christian Clavier, Jean Reno, Franck Dubosc, Karin Viard, Nicolas Vaude, Sylvie Testud.

I just finished the 10th rewatch of this move. Its just better and better every times. I completly understand the so many historical jokes and comic scenes and just like it and still laugh many times. I know the most people dont get it because its a very special humor. I can say its the most seriously underrated but simply best piece of Les visiteurs series. I can advise to watch it multiple times and you may get it! :D