Quartile rating: 6/10 · 1 rating
Set in 50 B.C., Asterix and Obelix are living in a small but well-protected village in Gaul, where a magic potion concocted by Druids turns the townsfolk into mighty soldiers. When Roman troops carve a path through Gaul to reach the English Channel, Caesar and his aide de camp Detritus discover the secret elixir and capture the Druid leader who knows its formula, and Asterix and Obelix are sent off to rescue them.
A live-action adaptation of the beloved Asterix comic, the film captures the visual spirit of the source material with decent production design and costumes, but the translation from page to screen feels clunky. The plot is a straightforward retelling of familiar Asterix storylines with little invention. Acting is broad and pantomimic, fitting for the comedy style but rarely rising above caricature. The cinematography is competent and colourful but unremarkable. Novelty is limited as it treads well-worn ground from the comics without adding a fresh perspective. The ending is predictable and wraps up without much dramatic satisfaction.