The other actors are excellent, (especially Gérard Darmon) rightly chosen even the minor actors in whom Chabat grants a big importance. As far as Christian Clavier and Gérard Depardieu are concerned, they're better managed than in the Zidi's film: they don't ham it up and are more credible in their respective roles even if Depardieu isn't fat enough. On the other hand, what a casting! It's very similar to the Sacha Guitry's film "si Versailles m'étais conté" and you can have fun by guessing which actor epitomize which character of the album "Astérix et Cléopâtre".
Moreover, he doesn't only emphasize on the special effects of the movie and this was one of the faults of the first Astérix' film made by Claude Zidi in 1999.
#Asterix and cleopatra movie review full#
His making is very inventive, full of clever visuals and ringing brainwaves.
Alain Chabat controls perfectly the huge incomes to his disposition (for example, sceneries are carefully restored and the crowd movements are wide) and he succeeds in recreating the fanciful atmosphere of the Astérix'albums. But once again, this enormous budget was worth to be spending. This record was beaten seven years later with this film. In 1995, the movie "le hussard sur le toit" was released and it had a record it was the most expensive movie ever made. Furthermore, other animated movies as Asterix and the big fight, Asterix and the Vikings, Asterix conquers America, Asterix in Britain, among others. This Asterix mission Cleopatra is followed by Asterix versus Julius Caesar by Claude Zidi and Asterix at the Olympic Games by Frédéric Forrestier. It made exceptional business at the French box office and in the export got success enough, too. The motion picture was professionally directed by Alain Chabat. It packs simpathetic appearances from Monica Belucci as gorgeous Cleopatra, Alain Chabat -who also directed- as Julius Caesar, Gerard Darmon as villian assistant, Eduardo Baer and Janel Debouzze as botcher architect whose awkwardness belies a short talent, he will repeat his role in Asterix at the Olympic Games, among others. Of course, there shows up regular pirate galleon with its likable pirates, this time the Gauls sinking over and over their unfortunate ships.
#Asterix and cleopatra movie review plus#
Lavish and robust live-action chapter of the famous cartoon, in which there's enough feelgood laughs, plus some satisfying and funny scrapping to keep viewers chortling. This amusing pic captures outrageous adventures, tongue-in-cheek, anachronistic modern-culture moments, feats, movie references and hilarious gags here and there. Then, all of them are persuaded to execute an assignment, that's why the intimate villagers go to Egypt to carry out a mission : to help Numerobix to meet the deadline set by Cleo : Monica Bellucci, who's anxious to have Caesar's : Alain Chabat palace completed in time to win a bet. They are asked for help from Egyptian stammering architect Numerobix : Janel Debouzze. In the village lives our friends, Asterix : Christian Clavier and his inseparable churn Obelix : Gerard Depardieu and Panoramix: Claude Rich, the venerable local druid who brews magic potions, his speciality is the potion which gives the drinker supernatural strength, whitout forgetting the chief Abraracourcix and the singer Bardo Cacofonix. One small village of indomitable Gauls holds out against against the invaders. French people and persons fluent in French language will certainly like these jokes, but they do not make any sense for me, that do not speak French. Therefore, the jokes with words (like in Austin Powers movies, for example) does not work well for people strange to French language.
However, the screenwriter and the director should have noted that French is not an universal language as English is. This movie is very funny, specially the parts where Obelix and the Pirates leaded by Red Beard participate. Numerobis will ask for help to Panoramix (Claude Rich), Asterix (Christian Clavier) and Obelix (Geraard Depardieu) (with Ideiafix).
She calls the one-arm architect Numerobis (Jamel Debbuzi) and gives him two options: to be covered by gold if he accomplishes his mission, or become crocodile food if he fails. Cleopatra (the delicious Monica Bellucci) is challenged by Cesar (Alain Chabat): in order to prove that the Egyptians are better than the Romans, she promises to build a fancy castle for Cesar in a period of three months, without any delay.