replaced Valérie Lemercier in the dual role of Frénégonde and Béatrice.
: Sometimes, obscure character names or voice actors overlap. For instance, French voice actors who dubbed lines for historical characters like Xerxes in foreign epics may have also played minor roles (such as a merchant, soldier, or peasant) in Jean-Marie Poiré’s massive ensemble cast The Visitors II .
Furthermore, Xerxes acts as a perfect foil to the protagonist, Godefroy de Montmirail. While Godefroy is rigid, superstitious, and bound by a code of chivalry (however flawed), Xerxes is portrayed as hedonistic, manipulative, and unburdened by honor. Their conflict escalates the film's recurring motif of "cuisine" as a plot device. The quest for the "Marronix" wine—a MacGuffin that propels the time-travel mechanics—is complicated by Xerxes’ relentless pursuit of his own desires. The film utilizes Xerxes to mock the trope of the "royal banquet," turning scenes of diplomatic intrigue into gross-out comedy. This aligns with the film’s core philosophy: that the past was not a dignified pageant, but a messy, smelly, and often ridiculous struggle for survival.
Officially titled Les Couloirs du temps : Les Visiteurs II , this is the 1998 sequel to the 1993 cult classic, Les Visiteurs . The film picks up immediately where the first movie ended, following the time-traveling misadventures of the medieval knight Godefroy de Montmirail (Jean Reno) and his dim-witted squire, Jacquouille la Fripouille (Christian Clavier). It was a massive commercial hit upon its release, solidifying its place in French pop culture. les visiteurs 2 les couloirs du temps xerxes
The mention of "Xerxes" acts as a linguistic punchline highlighting this historical disconnect. Godefroy is obsessed with his ancestors and real historical figures of his worldview, like Charlemagne, Saint Louis, or local feudal lords. When mixed with the modern characters' superficial knowledge of history—or reference to completely unrelated historical figures like Xerxes—it underscores the absolute impossibility of communication between the two eras. It operates similarly to Jacquouille’s famous, nonsensical exclamations ("OKAYYY!", "C'est gouteux!"), serving as a verbal representation of time-travel whiplash. The Stylistic Hallmarks of Poiré and Clavier
Aujourd’hui, Les Visiteurs 2 divise parfois la critique. Certains lui reprochent un scénario trop tiré par les cheveux (ce qui est un comble pour un film sur les voyages dans le temps) et des effets spéciaux datés (le fameux "couloir du temps" en CGI bleu azur).
This line encapsulates the film’s genius. Xerxes is not evil; he is simply a man of his time (which is a different time) applying his logic (conquest and fire) to a world that has no category for him. Godefroy ultimately defeats him not with a sword, but with a lesson in temporal mechanics: he shoves the crystal into Xerxes' crown, causing the king to be violently sucked back to 467 B.C., where he arrives mid-feast, confused and wearing a 20th-century sneaker on one foot. replaced Valérie Lemercier in the dual role of
L'histoire reprend exactement là où le premier opus s'était arrêté. Godefroy de Montmirail est retourné au Moyen Âge pour épouser la douce Frénégonde. Malheureusement, les couloirs du temps sont restés ouverts.
. But if you want to see a medieval knight accidentally try to eat a bar of soap or mistake a mail truck for a "Saracen" chariot, look no further than Les Visiteurs 2: Les couloirs du temps The Plot: A Relic-Sized Problem Les Visiteurs II: The Corridors of Time (Film) - TV Tropes
so he can close the time corridors and save his father-in-law, who is dying due to the temporal disturbance. The Ending Furthermore, Xerxes acts as a perfect foil to
This theft disrupts the "corridors of time," threatening the health of Godefroy's future father-in-law. This forces the duo (along with a few modern-day descendants) to jump back to the 20th century to recover the missing items, leading to a series of hilarious misunderstandings, culture clashes, and slapstick chaos with a host of new and returning characters.
The reviews for "Les Visiteurs 2: Les Couloirs du Temps" are generally positive, with many praising the chemistry between the leads, the comedic timing, and the entertaining storyline.
Throughout the movie, Jacquouille and Godefroy struggle to identify modern objects, giving them medieval names (e.g., calling a car a "devil's chariot" or a telephone a "gargoyle"). Conversely, when modern characters try to make sense of Godefroy's medieval declarations, wires get crossed.