Just Visiting
John Powell
" synthesized tone can't stop me from enjoying it "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
In the ever growing career of John Powell, there doesn't seem to be a way to stop his long list of assignments. Of course that isn't necessarily a bad thing, considering John Powell stands today as one of the favorite composers of many, even if it's for something as dumb as Just Visiting. Just Visiting is the American remake of the French blockbuster Les Visiteurs, starring Jean Reno and Christian Clavier in their roles as count Thibault and the henchman Andre. And yet, while it is John Powell at the helm, Just Visiting wasn't that well accepted.
Of course the reason for this is simple, it's synthesized or at least most of it. But having seen the film (I know, I know), I know what the music does inside the context and for me that's what matters. That it will be due to budgetary reasons is of course a complaint you can't attack John Powell for, considering he tries to make the most of it. But it is true that it occasionally sounds incredibly cheap.
The moment that will remain in your head, long after the movie and score has passed away is actually the main theme of the movie. As energetic as we expect them of Powell, it is a fun and entertaining theme that drives this score's fun-o-meter. First heard in "Thibault Goes to England" and absolutely riveting in "Kill the Car" and "The Big Chase", it is a main theme you will love for its entertaining values and detest for its cheap synthesized sound.
While the score sounds cheap during most of the occasions, Powell does try to incorporate enough sounds to create an as large epic tone as possible. There are several moments for choir ("Thibault Goes to England", "My Cousin, My Descendant", The Wizard Pulls Himself Together") that create this feeling as best as possible.
The lovely fact it isn't one theme that drives this score is enough reason for you to dig deeper during the listen as well. Besides the main theme, we have 2 love themes. 2 for each character played by Christina Applegate. The Rosaline's love theme is discovered during the lovely guitar moment in "Rosaline & Thibault", "Thibault Sees Julia" and "So Many Descendants", and even receives choral versions during "Hallucination and Execution", "What Will I Do Without You" and "Thibault and the Wizard Return Home". It even resurfaces upbeat during the song at the end, namely "Your Time Will Come" which is really a take it or leave it affair.
However there is another theme and it was the one alongside the main theme that got me cheerful during the movie. It is the theme for Julia (another role for Christina Applegate) and gets an absolutely lovely version during "On the Bridge", "Not A Bunny" and "Hunter Gets It / Julia Sees the Castle". However it would be foolish to diminish the lovely qualities of Andre's theme, as it is heard in "Feel Like A Lady" "Andre Can't Ask" and "Andre Asks to Stay" (heard alongside the Rosaline theme).
Considering this is a romantic comedy, don't be surprised to discover some lighter moments as well. Luckily, it all remains audible and enjoyable enough. The odd duck in the pond is "Another Visitor", which comes over as the most weird one.
So for a 40 minute listen, you get in fact more than you bargained for. Not only is there the fun adventurous main theme of the score, there are also 2 completely different love themes and a nice character theme for André, making sure you have enough material to keep you interested during the listen. Because it is the sound of Just Visiting that will ask the most of you (even if this only affects the main theme moments during the score). So accept the fact it's also aided through the work of 3 additional composers and you'll enjoy Just Visiting more than actually hating it.
Tracklisting
1. Thibault Goes to England (2.39)
2. The Hag's Hut (2.28)
3. Rosaline & Thibault (1.31)
4. Hallucination and Execution (1.10)
5. To Chicago (0.47)
6. Kill the Car (1.59)
7. Thibault Sees Julia * (1.16)
8. My Cousin, My Descendant * (1.29)
9. Ode De Toilet (0.26)
10. Tub for Two (1.03)
11. So Many Descendants * (0.21)
12. Kissing Cousins * (0.38)
13. Searching For A Wizard (0.50)
14. Another Visitor * (0.44)
15. On the Bridge (1.55)
16. Feel Like A Lady ** (1.04)
17. Andre Can't Ask ** (0.35)
18. The Wizard Pulls Himself Together * (1.02)
19. The Wizards Cooks + (0.39)
20. Andre Asks to Stay ** (0.57)
21. Not A Bunny (1.04)
22. The Big Chase (2.01)
23. What Will I Do Without You (1.45)
24. Thibault and the Wizard Return Home * (1.52)
25. In the Icehall (1.08)
26. Hunter Gets It / Julia Sees the Castle (1.43)
27. Your Time Will Come: Kudson Kai ++ (2.56)
* Additional music by Nick Glennie - Smith
** Additional music by James McKee Smith
+ Additional music by Geoff Zanelli
++ Written by John Powell, Gavin Greenaway & Jeff Pescetto
Total Length: 36.18
Of course the reason for this is simple, it's synthesized or at least most of it. But having seen the film (I know, I know), I know what the music does inside the context and for me that's what matters. That it will be due to budgetary reasons is of course a complaint you can't attack John Powell for, considering he tries to make the most of it. But it is true that it occasionally sounds incredibly cheap.
The moment that will remain in your head, long after the movie and score has passed away is actually the main theme of the movie. As energetic as we expect them of Powell, it is a fun and entertaining theme that drives this score's fun-o-meter. First heard in "Thibault Goes to England" and absolutely riveting in "Kill the Car" and "The Big Chase", it is a main theme you will love for its entertaining values and detest for its cheap synthesized sound.
While the score sounds cheap during most of the occasions, Powell does try to incorporate enough sounds to create an as large epic tone as possible. There are several moments for choir ("Thibault Goes to England", "My Cousin, My Descendant", The Wizard Pulls Himself Together") that create this feeling as best as possible.
The lovely fact it isn't one theme that drives this score is enough reason for you to dig deeper during the listen as well. Besides the main theme, we have 2 love themes. 2 for each character played by Christina Applegate. The Rosaline's love theme is discovered during the lovely guitar moment in "Rosaline & Thibault", "Thibault Sees Julia" and "So Many Descendants", and even receives choral versions during "Hallucination and Execution", "What Will I Do Without You" and "Thibault and the Wizard Return Home". It even resurfaces upbeat during the song at the end, namely "Your Time Will Come" which is really a take it or leave it affair.
However there is another theme and it was the one alongside the main theme that got me cheerful during the movie. It is the theme for Julia (another role for Christina Applegate) and gets an absolutely lovely version during "On the Bridge", "Not A Bunny" and "Hunter Gets It / Julia Sees the Castle". However it would be foolish to diminish the lovely qualities of Andre's theme, as it is heard in "Feel Like A Lady" "Andre Can't Ask" and "Andre Asks to Stay" (heard alongside the Rosaline theme).
Considering this is a romantic comedy, don't be surprised to discover some lighter moments as well. Luckily, it all remains audible and enjoyable enough. The odd duck in the pond is "Another Visitor", which comes over as the most weird one.
So for a 40 minute listen, you get in fact more than you bargained for. Not only is there the fun adventurous main theme of the score, there are also 2 completely different love themes and a nice character theme for André, making sure you have enough material to keep you interested during the listen. Because it is the sound of Just Visiting that will ask the most of you (even if this only affects the main theme moments during the score). So accept the fact it's also aided through the work of 3 additional composers and you'll enjoy Just Visiting more than actually hating it.
Tracklisting
1. Thibault Goes to England (2.39)
2. The Hag's Hut (2.28)
3. Rosaline & Thibault (1.31)
4. Hallucination and Execution (1.10)
5. To Chicago (0.47)
6. Kill the Car (1.59)
7. Thibault Sees Julia * (1.16)
8. My Cousin, My Descendant * (1.29)
9. Ode De Toilet (0.26)
10. Tub for Two (1.03)
11. So Many Descendants * (0.21)
12. Kissing Cousins * (0.38)
13. Searching For A Wizard (0.50)
14. Another Visitor * (0.44)
15. On the Bridge (1.55)
16. Feel Like A Lady ** (1.04)
17. Andre Can't Ask ** (0.35)
18. The Wizard Pulls Himself Together * (1.02)
19. The Wizards Cooks + (0.39)
20. Andre Asks to Stay ** (0.57)
21. Not A Bunny (1.04)
22. The Big Chase (2.01)
23. What Will I Do Without You (1.45)
24. Thibault and the Wizard Return Home * (1.52)
25. In the Icehall (1.08)
26. Hunter Gets It / Julia Sees the Castle (1.43)
27. Your Time Will Come: Kudson Kai ++ (2.56)
* Additional music by Nick Glennie - Smith
** Additional music by James McKee Smith
+ Additional music by Geoff Zanelli
++ Written by John Powell, Gavin Greenaway & Jeff Pescetto
Total Length: 36.18