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Christian Clavier, Jean Reno, Valérie Lemercier, Marie-Anne Chazel, Christian Bujeau ... see more see more... , Isabelle Nanty , Didier Pain , Pierre Aussedat , Eric Averlant , Didier Benureau , Jean-Luc Caron , Anna Gaylor , Francois Lalande , Claire Magnin , Madeleine Marie , Gérard Séty , Pierre Vial , Michel Peyrelon , Jean-Pierre Clami , Jean-Paul Muel

A modern farce about medieval life, this is a time-travel comedy by French director Jean-Marie Poire. A 12th-century nobleman, Godefroy (Jean Reno), and his squire Jacquouille (Christian Clavier) are ... read more read more...the victims of a mistake by an aging wizard. While trying to work another spell, the sorcerer accidentally transports the pair to the late 20th century. To his great dismay, Godefroy finds that his family is now poor and has sold their estate to Jacquouille's rich descendants, including Jacquart (also played by Clavier). The insensitive new owners plan to turn the castle into a modern hotel. Meanwhile, the sorcerer asks his own descendant for help in trying to get his charges to return back to medieval times. The film, which details with comic precision the differences in manners and technology between the two eras, was a huge hit in France. ~ Michael Betzold, Rovi

Flixster Users

74% liked it

11,972 ratings

Critics

33% liked it

12 critics

R, 1 hr. 47 min.

Directed by: Jean-Marie Poiré

Release Date: January 1, 1993

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DVD Release Date: September 11, 2001

Stats: 554 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (554)

  • FrizzDrop
    March 13, 2012
    FrizzDrop
    This quirky French comedy is pure absurdist fun and frothy as a milkshake, but with the queer interloping humor of the French. Though crude in many respects, it's still a cult classic because it goes where other films don't. It's certainly goofy, realistic based on the time it wa... read mores set and the times of the two main characters, with the character of Beatrice being flighty and yet marginally stern. She is what holds the glue between the past and the present, and she is a true wife and mother, someone we can get behind and respect, which was an element the American remake rejected. Yes, this is a French original, which also led to a poor reception for its sequel, and utter chagrin at the remake. This film deserves to be set in France and take place in France, again an element the remake neglects. The people, the countryside, the warmth of the castle fires and the frigid temperatures of the castle dungeons all feel extremely real and kooky. The reason it was so big was the allure of a national film, a film of France, and this film does that by linking the rich heritage of an entire country and showing how much of the country as a whole has changed. The cast, who were all the same for both the sequel and the remake, are truly brilliant. Jean Reno (who would later become most famous for Leon the next year) is playfully a Dudley Do-right type of infantile schmuck, with a pretentious air as he is a rich man of the court. Christian Clavier is a strange sidekick, though crafty and politically sound, vying for independence with the help of a down and out floozy. The humor behind them converging with modern day technology wasn't exactly groundbreaking, but their attributes and small inconsistencies really endeared them to the audience, and made for some real laughs throughout. Whether chuckling over the ditzy hotel owner or the fate of the descendents, whose house was in a shambles by the end thanks to these two's actions, it was a sweet and bumpy kind of comedy.
  • ScoopOnline
    February 8, 2010
    ScoopOnline
    This Movie is incredibly funny. Beside Gèrard Depardieu, Jean Reno and Christian Clavier are one of the best french comedians.
  • spaulsson
    March 24, 2009
    spaulsson
    A french comedy with an interesting plot, starring Jean Reno, certainly sounds good in theory. I wasn't pleased though - the humour was mostly repetitive, ridiculous and didn't suit me. There were some great jokes and physical humour, but with this kind of story it could've been... read more so much better. Two medieval fighters travelling thousand years into the future could result in very funny cultural crashes, and some of them certainly is, but I could list more funny situations in "Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles" than here. A bad indication. If you want hilarious french humour you should try any comedy with Louis de Funes in the leading role.
  • shannylee38
    January 23, 2007
    shannylee38
    Funny as hell!

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Critic Reviews

Lisa Schwarzbaum
September 7, 2011
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly

Click to read the article Full Review

Lisa Nesselson
March 26, 2009
Lisa Nesselson, Variety

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Stephen Holden
May 20, 2003
Stephen Holden, New York Times

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February 14, 2001
Los Angeles Times

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James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

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Edward Guthmann
January 1, 2000
Edward Guthmann, San Francisco Chronicle

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Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

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Stanley Kauffmann
January 1, 2000
Stanley Kauffmann, New Republic

No review available.

January 1, 1993
Entertainment Weekly

Click to read the article Full Review

Neil Cohen
July 29, 2007
Neil Cohen, Echo Magazine

No review available.

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