Asterix At The Olympic Games [DVD]

 

 

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Despite its reputation, Asterix at the Olympic Games isn't unwatchably bad, it's simply not good. The most expensive European film to date, with a budget around the $100m mark, no expense has been spared bringing Goscinny and Uderzo's heroic Gauls from the comicbook pages to the live-action screen in colossal fashion, but sadly most of the jokes have. While the film wallows in incredible spectacle and special effects, that's really all it ever has to offer. Having got it so right with the previous live-action entry Mission Cleopatre, it's sad to see this go so bland and outstay its welcome so quickly. Co-directed by Claude Berri's son, Thomas Langmann, who seems intent on proving that talent is not genetic, there's none of the wit or imagination of the original comic books here. Not only does it not attempt to play as much to the adults with sly classical allusions, it doesn't give the smaller children that much to make them laugh either. With no sympathetic characters, or even a plot to speak of, there's nothing to anchor the empty spectacle.

It's no wonder that Christian Clavier didn't come back for a third time as the diminutive hero - Asterix and Obelix are barely in the movie, and when they are they have nothing to do but occasionally stand on the sidelines and watch the other actors while the overlong epilogue is largely devoted to some unfunny business with a cameoing Jamel Debbouze that only serves to remind you how much funnier the last film was. Clovis Cornillac does his best as Asterix, but with absolutely nothing to work with he's reduced to simply striking poses from the comic books - Depardieu at least gets a scene where he gets to feed suitors human and canine with the words to woo Cyrano style. It's not funny, but at least it gives him one scene where he actually does something.

Indeed, it's a mystery why the film wasn't called Brutus and Cesar at the Olympics instead - it's centred around Brutus and his attempts to kill his stepdad so much that it's surprising Benoit Poelvoorde didn't get top billing (something the film's teaser trailer openly acknowledged). Hell, even Alain 'can't do comedy' Delon probably has more screen time than Cornillac: too much, at times. Introduced with Ennio Morricone's theme music from The Sicilian Clan and making jokes about Rocco and his Brothers and not ageing but maturing, whether the at-least-30-years-too-old-for-the-part star is trying to show us that he's not above joking about himself or simply trying to remind us that he has made some good films in the past is hard to tell, especially since Delon's comic delivery is way up there with Charlton Heston's cold dead attempts to prove he had a sense of humor as well.

With no fish fights, no pirates, barely three minutes spent in the village and, perhaps most surprising of all considering all the opportunities, not even a single "Et tu, Brute?", it's a shame that this would be the last film for Jean-Pierre Cassel, unrecognisable here as the druid Getafix/Panoramix. Like most of the cast he never gets a chance to make an impression. He's just there, as if briefly showing the character every 15-20 minutes before ignoring him again was enough, a fate that befalls all of the indomitable Gauls. Instead, we get endless botched assassination attempts, a Michael Curtiz joke ("Bring on the empty horses") in a chariot race almost as long but not half as entertaining as the one in Ben-Hur, a few sporting cameos (most notably Michael Schumacher as a charioteer and Zinedine Zidane kicking a ball around for a minute or so), and a lot of special effects until the film just peters out.

The UK PAL DVD offers the original French soundtrack and an atrocious English dub, as well as a couple of trailers.

Just to correct a common misconception: THIS FILM WAS NOT A CINEMATIC FLOP! It topped the box office in most european countries including France, even beating competition from Harry Potter in Greece.

Yes this movie was panned by a lot of critics, but expectations were so incredibly high that it's no surprise it didn't manage to meet them. Firstly it was following the hugely entertaining, intelligent and successful 'Mission Cleopatra'. Secondly it was the most expensive French pic ever (with a reported budget of $115 million).

Ignoring all that and just taking the film on its own merits, I found it thoroughly entertaining and funny (at least when watched in French). It was certainly far better than the most recent animated attempt 'Asterix et les Vikings'.

Ok it doesn't deserve five stars (I gave it that to balance the silly one-star review below), but I would be comfortable giving it four. I'm glad I purchased it and I will watch it again.

I love Asterix, i grew up reading all of the them and was delighted when the first movie was made! it was pretty good, then came the second and it was okay... the third one is simply terrible. The actor playing Asterix (different from first two) is useless, not funny and boring. The plot is weak and I actually fell asleep watching it!

Don't bother.

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4.0 out of 5 stars Good To Have To Complete Your Trilogy..
This third "Live Action" Asterix movie based on the over 30 year old comic books
originally created in France. Read more

Published on 1 Feb 2010 by Daniel M. Kosut

5.0 out of 5 stars Best fun for ages
Not only is this a hilarious film, it's clever. Anyone who didn't like it probably didn't get the insider jokes e.g. Read more

Published on 28 Sep 2008 by Reader / writer

1.0 out of 5 stars One of the worst French films ever!
This is the third movie based upon the Asterix comic books. The first was pitiful, the second is definitely one of the best comic film I've ever seen, the third one... Read more

Published on 17 Aug 2008 by Frenchie 67

5.0 out of 5 stars Asterix at the olympic games
This film i recommend to anyone who wants a great film to laugh until you drop with belly ache, because its a wonderful film. Read more

Published on 2 Aug 2008 by Mrs. Gail J. Gray

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