Just Visiting was originally released in France as Les Visiteurs in 1993, where it became a hit. John Hughes revised the screenplay for an American release and the movie underwent production with the same director and cast.

Count Thibeau the Sixth (Jean Reno) is to marry the king's daughter, Lady Rosaline (Christina Applegate), but the evil Earl of Warrick (Robert Glenister) wants to marry her so that he may inherit the kingdom and the throne. The Earl commissions a witch to create a potion that will make Lady Rosaline kill Count Thibeau at their wedding feast. Things go backward when the couple drink from each other's glasses, and he kills her.

Thibeau summons a wizard (Malcolm McDowell), who tries to send Thibeau and his servant, Andre (Christian Clavier), back through time. Instead, they land in 21st-century Chicago, where they meet Thibeau's great-great-great-great-granddaughter Julia, who looks identical to the Lady Rosaline.

Julia's only cousin, Thibeau's namesake, recently disappeared at sea during the Admiral's Cup and has been pronounced legally dead. Julia has inherited Thibeau's entire estate.

Julia's gold-digging boyfriend, Hunter (Matthew Ross), who is romancing his secretary and planning to leave Julia as soon as he has her money, is pushing Julia to sell the estate. They mistakenly believe that Thibeau is the lost-at-sea cousin. Hunter is determined to prove that he is an imposter so Julia can retain the estate.

All Thibeau wants is to return to his own time and save Lady Rosaline. His search for a wizard through the streets of Chicago yields disastrous (hilarious) results.

The first time I watched this movie, I laughed almost nonstop from beginning to end. Every time I would get almost composed, I had to laugh or burst again. The humor isn't just in the dialogue and actions, but is embedded into the details with great subtlety. If you came to America from a far-distant time and place, what would you pick up and take home with you? How would the persons in the king's court react to your items? You have to watch the details and the minor actors to get the full jest of the humor.

The scenery, buildings, costumes, animals, and historical items are breathtaking. You have to watch this movie a second time just to drool over all the historical items ... unless you were so busy looking at them that you missed the movie the first time through. Either way, this is a movie that beckons to be watched again and again. This was definitely not a cheap production. A note to the horse lovers: the horsemanship will blow you away.

This movie has sometimes been compared to Kate & Leopold but the two are far too different to be compared except that both involve a man from another time and a woman from the present in America. They involve different historical eras, different circumstances of the time travelers, and different situations of the persons being visited. One is a comedy while the other is a romantic adventure with comedy. But if I must compare them, I far prefer this one because I do enjoy watching it again.

Just Visiting is a brilliant movie with visually stunning sets, an intriguing storyline, and action to put you on the edge of your seat. Although it will keep you laughing, it has the tension and drama of a serious film.