JUST VISITING (2001) **1/2 The prefab confabs that went into pre- pre-production of this thing must have been pretty good, too. [voccé de France] "Le Visiteurs, eet woss beeg heet, no? Bott le 'mericains no like tew reed zee sop-titles, oui?" So they decided that bucks were more important than artistic sovereignty, and did a remake only eight years after the original-Jean Reno is still the star, but this time he's cast opposite a leading lady from a Fox Network sitcom. That, they were no doubt assured, is how you put asses in the seats in Omaha. And, against all of my better instincts and inclinations, I approve. It's funny, and nothing else matters as much. Reno understands more than completely all that Americans expect the French to be: haughty, obstinant, loud, petty, that strange mixture of coarse and cultured, passionate, vindictive, obstinent and bewildered. Christina Applegate might not have ever made a Truffaut short list, but she's a much better actress than she's been given credit for and she's particularly good at characters whose principal characteristic is soul. Quick quiz for all you young bachelours out there: viewing this film, who do you want-Applegate, Bridgette Wilson, or Tara Reid? If you picked Bridgette Wilson you're in for an absolutely miserable existence (unless you're Pete Sampras), save for increasingly rare five-minute intervals. If you went for Tara, assume that you'll always be broke. I mean, she embarks on a trip "around the world," and opens by going to Vegas?! I see a major collapse someplace between Zzyx and Bakersfield. If you picked Applegate, you're still wrong (no, domestic bliss isn't impossible, it was a trick question)-for one thing the character's not real, and for another, wait 'til you meet the in-laws! The father is a shoe salesman, and the mother spends her entire life watching tv and eating bon-bons and trying to figure out how she'd spend his money if he made any. What? You're willing to accept a premise involving inter-generational time travel, but you won't allow for inter-media character blending?
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