Right, grab your favourite worn-out armchair and maybe a slightly questionable snack you vaguely remember enjoying in the late 90s, because we’re diving back into the chaotic timeline tornado that is The Visitors II: The Corridors of Time (original French title: Les Couloirs du temps : Les Visiteurs II). If you were one of the millions charmed by the sheer Gallic insanity of the original Les Visiteurs (1993), popping this sequel into the VCR likely felt like an absolute necessity. It picks up literally the second the first one ended, with that jaw-dropping mistaken identity swap – no time for breathers, we're straight back into the medieval/modern culture clash, albeit with a fresh twist.
Okayyy! Right Back At It
Remember that cliffhanger? Count Godefroy de Montmirail (Jean Reno, bringing his signature stoic charm) intended to return to the 12th century with his squire Jacquouille la Fripouille (Christian Clavier, a comedic force of nature), but thanks to a botched potion, Godefroy arrives sans Jacquouille, while Jacquouille's modern descendant, the effete Jacquart (also Clavier), finds himself unexpectedly flung back into the muck and mire of the Middle Ages. It’s a bold move by director/writer Jean-Marie Poiré (who also co-wrote with Clavier), essentially doubling down on the fish-out-of-water premise by flipping part of it. The sheer confidence to pick up exactly where the first film left off, without preamble, felt quite audacious back then – like the second part of a miniseries you’d eagerly awaited.
Christian Clavier, pulling double duty, is the absolute engine here. His Jacquouille remains a grotesque delight – crude, grasping, hilariously out of place in the 20th century. But his Jacquart, thrust into the brutal past, offers a different flavour of comedic panic. It’s a testament to Clavier’s physical comedy and expressive face that both characters feel distinct yet equally capable of generating laughs through sheer bewilderment and inappropriate reactions. Jean Reno as Godefroy provides the perfect anchor, his noble bearing and simmering frustration acting as the ideal foil to Clavier’s whirlwind energy. It's hard to imagine anyone else in these roles, though fun fact: the original Les Visiteurs was such a phenomenon in France (becoming the highest-grossing French film there for years) that the pressure for this sequel was immense, and getting the core cast back was paramount.
More Medieval Mayhem, Modern Mirth
The plot essentially splits: Godefroy, aided by his descendant Béatrice (Valérie Lemercier, sadly missed here after her iconic turn in the first film, though Muriel Robin steps in gamely as the new character Frénégonde/Béatrice's cousin), scrambles in the present to find the missing magical ingredients (and Jacquouille) to fix the timeline. Meanwhile, Jacquart endures a crash course in medieval misery, desperately trying to survive among his bewildered ancestors. This dual narrative keeps the pace frantic, maybe even more so than the original. Poiré leans heavily into rapid-fire dialogue, quick cuts, and escalating slapstick sequences.
Does it always work? Well, perhaps not quite as seamlessly as the first film. Some gags feel a bit like reheated leftovers from the original smash hit, and the sheer density of the chaos can occasionally feel exhausting rather than exhilarating, especially on a small, fuzzy CRT screen back in the day! The introduction of the French Revolution into the mix adds another layer, though arguably complicates things further. Yet, there’s an undeniable energy that pulls you along. Muriel Robin injects fresh comedic life, holding her own against the established duo, particularly in her interactions with the perpetually confused Godefroy.
Capturing Lightning Twice?
Making a sequel to a phenomenon is tough. The Visitors wasn't just a hit; it was a cultural event in France, its catchphrases ("Okayyy!", "C'est dingue!") entering the popular lexicon. The Corridors of Time, while still a significant box office success (reportedly costing significantly more than the original, around 150 million Francs), didn't quite recapture that same lightning in a bottle for critics or some audiences. It felt a bit broader, louder, perhaps trying a touch too hard to replicate the magic formula.
Yet, viewed through the nostalgic lens of VHS Heaven, there’s still plenty to enjoy. The commitment of the performers is undeniable. The central comedic concept remains strong, even when stretched across two timelines. There's a certain charm to its slightly rough-around-the-edges feel, a stark contrast to the polished, often soulless, big-budget comedies of today. You can almost feel the effort involved in staging the historical scenes and the gleeful abandon of the modern-day destruction. The film's enduring appeal, despite its flaws, even led to the ill-fated American remake Just Visiting (2001), directed again by Poiré and starring Reno and Clavier alongside Christina Applegate, proving the core idea had legs, even if they wobbled a bit in translation.
Final Verdict
The Visitors II: The Corridors of Time is like that second slice of incredibly rich cake – still enjoyable, definitely indulgent, but perhaps lacking the surprising delight of the first bite. It’s louder, messier, and occasionally stumbles over its own frantic feet. However, the comedic chemistry between Clavier and Reno remains potent, Clavier’s dual performance is a marvel of manic energy, and the sheer audacity of its premise carries it a long way. It’s pure, unadulterated French farce cranked up to eleven.
Rating: 6.5/10
Justification: While not reaching the classic status of its predecessor, The Visitors II delivers enough laughs and maintains the core appeal thanks to its leads and hyperactive energy. It suffers from some repetition and a slightly less focused plot, preventing it from scoring higher, but it's far from a disaster and offers solid entertainment for fans of the original or broad European comedy.
Final Thought: A chaotic, often hilarious time-warp sequel that proves even slightly diluted medieval madness, viewed through the warm glow of a cathode ray tube, can still be pretty dingue.