| . |
"Just Visiting"
(Reviewed March 29, 2001)
-
I never saw the original French version of this movie (which was titled "Les Visiteurs," with the same two actors in the roles of a Dark Ages nobleman and his servant who are transported to our time), so I can't make any comparisons between the two. Sorry. Oh, sure, I could go rent the thing, and thereby be able to write a proper review. But that would mean leaving the house and spending a couple of dollars, and God knows I'm not THAT dedicated to my critical craft.
What I can say is that when this movie isn't being dumb and obvious (possibly a result of the screenplay-adaptation input of John Hughes), it's actually pretty entertaining. The main reason for this is Christina Applegate, who is absolutely charming. Instead of reprising her stacked-and-dumb "Married With Children" act, she is likeable and sweet-natured and appealingly down-to-earth, more Renee Zellweger than Jenny McCarthy this time around.
Make no mistake, there are lots of things in "Just Visiting" that make it seem as if two different movies have collided head-on. I could have done without the entire Tara Reid subplot, for example. (She plays the neighbor's foxy but flakey live-in gardener, or something, and develops a baffling attraction to Andre the peasant.) I actually preferred the sentimental scenes between nobleman Jean Reno and Christina to the slapstick ones. In fact, the whole movie might have worked better if everything had been played straight, with only small touches of humor, instead of the other way around.
Still, it's a fun movie. And you will be pleasantly surprised at what a good actress little Kelly Bundy grew up to be.
Back Row Grade: B-
(Return to Index)
|
. |