Astérix & Obélix contre César [Asterix and Obelix vs Caesar] ** (1999, Christian Clavier, Gérard Depardieu, Roberto Benigni) – Classic Movie Review 9564

Director Claude Zidi’s 1999 Asterix and Obelix vs Caesar [Astérix and Obélix contre César] was a huge hit in its countries of origin, France, Germany and Italy, but it is a slack and lazy live-action adventure comedy film of the cartoon, with Christian Clavier (Astérix) and Gérard Depardieu (Obélix) way over the top as the heroes, who try to save their village in Gaul (ancient France) from Julius Caesar’s Roman invaders.

Asterix and Obelix vs Caesar [Astérix and Obélix contre César] is good natured but pretty tedious stuff, and there are not many laughs as it is more annoying than funny. But, if you liked Les Visiteurs, you may be attuned to its French low-taste sense of humour.

The UK cinema and video release was in a horrible dubbed version.

Also in the cast are Roberto Begnini as Lucius Detritus, Michel Galabru, Claude Piéplu, Daniel Prévost, Pierre Palmade, Arielle Dombasle, Gottfried John and Laetitia Casta.

The screenplay by Claude Zidi and Gérard Lauzier is based on the beloved comic book characters by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo.

Gottfried John, who plays Jules César [Julius Caesar], is best known for his role of James Bond villain General Ourumov in 1995’s GoldenEye. His work with director Rainer Werner Fassbinder includes The Marriage of Maria Braun, Lili Marleen and the TV series Berlin Alexanderplatz. He died in Munich on 1 September 2014 after battling cancer.

René Goscinny (1926–1977).

RIP Albert Uderzo, who died on 24 March 2020, age 92.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9564

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