Watch The Visitors: Bastille Day

The Visitors: Bastille Day is a French comedy film released in 2016, directed by Jean-Marie Poiré and starring Christian Clavier, Jean Reno, and Franck Dubosc. The film is a sequel to the 1993 hit comedy The Visitors, which follows a medieval knight and his servant who time travel to modern-day France. In this sequel, the knight Godefroy de Montmirail (Clavier) and his squire Jacquouille la Fripouille (Dubosc) are transported to the year 1793, during the French Revolution. They accidentally land in the middle of the Place de la Concorde, witnessing the beheading of Louis XVI. Godefroy is horrified by the guillotine and its use, and makes it his mission to save the monarch from his tragic fate.

Soon, they team up with a historian named Béatrice de Montmirail (played by newcomer Alex Lutz), who happens to be a descendent of Godefroy, to try and rewrite history. They must evade the revolutionaries and stay alive while trying to find a way to prevent Louis XVI's execution. Meanwhile, the knight's archenemy, the evil Lord Blackadder (Reno), who has also been transported to this time period, is determined to undermine their mission and change history for the worse.

The Visitors: Bastille Day is a classic slapstick comedy that relies heavily on physical humor and absurd situations. The humor is mostly derived from the contrast between the medieval knights' outdated behavior and the modern-day setting, as well as the chaos that ensues from their attempts to change history.

The acting is solid, with Christian Clavier and Jean Reno reprising their roles from the first movie to great effect. Clavier's Godefroy is endearingly naive and chivalrous, while Reno's Blackadder is hilariously over-the-top in his villainy. Franck Dubosc provides comic relief as Jacouille, the servant who often bumbles his way through their adventures. The addition of Alex Lutz as Béatrice is a refreshing one, and her character serves as both a love interest for Godefroy and a source of knowledge for the time period.

While the film is entertaining overall, it does have some weaknesses. The plot is quite thin and predictable, and some of the jokes feel repetitive or rely too much on cheap gags. Additionally, the film's attempts at political commentary can feel heavy-handed at times, and the portrayal of the French Revolution is somewhat simplistic. However, these flaws are forgivable in a film that is clearly meant to be lighthearted and silly.

Overall, The Visitors: Bastille Day is a satisfying sequel that delivers laughs and entertainment for fans of the original film. It may not be as groundbreaking or memorable as its predecessor, but it is an enjoyable romp through history that will leave audiences chuckling.

The Visitors: Bastille Day is a 2016 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 49 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.6.