Many reasons to see this nice comedy. if you has not high expectations from it. because it has two sides. one reasonables, who saves few errors - the great actors in the lead roles - and it is a delight for malicious aspect of us to see the admirable Alain Delon in a hilarious sketch of Julius Cesar - or tolerate a so strange Asterix gived by Clovis Cornillac. the other side is a little bitter . because it is too...American. special effects, few not real inspired jokes and Olimpic Games, too eccentric references to history and an obvious film almost only for adults . but, sure, Depardieu does a good job. and a solide pillare could save a fragile house to fall. with huge dosis of mercy from public.

After great example of "Asterix and Obelix Mission Kleopatra" I was hoping that the next Asterix movie will be as good if not better. When I saw the trailer the visuals and special effects for this one look amazing and I was happy to see it base on one of the best Asterix books... Sadly all the hope gone very quickly, as while looking pretty this movie field when it came down to the script. The story barley fallows the book. It use few ideas and thats it. All cleverness and satire is throw away in place of a Cliché love story I've seen million times before. What worst for a title character Asterix dose little in the movie (and I don't care much for the new actor who is playing him) Instead movie focus on the new characters either the lovers who aren't that interesting or the main villain Brutus who's simply annoying and gets way too much screen time.Jokes are either gags that will entertain the youngest of children or simply forced jokes like the Star Wars reference that barley made any sense. The only thing I like about it is the actor who played Cesar but pare-up with the annoying Brutus he don't get to much chance to shine.Over all worst of all Asterix movies and a big wast of time and money.

Even if you've never finished any Asterix book you'll enjoy this movie if you see it through a child's eye. Delon steals the movie. His first monologue could be used in a psychology textbook for "narcissism", and knowing him, it's very funny that he took this role. It's like he can laugh at himself, which is a trait that few actors possess. The mention to his film "Rocco e i suoi fratelli" is funny too for those who enjoy his many good films. Benoît Poelvoorde is really great as a despicable anti hero, very well described by César in the beginning: "Egypt had the 7 plagues, César had Brutus". The romantic couple is likable. The beau who's not as bright with words as we think (the homage to Cyrano is a feast) is fine but I guess it proves what counts and what not for picking up women :). Vanessa Hessler is stunningly beautiful, yes, but OK as an actress and rather sympa. Not bad for a model turned actress/ who turned to acting. I'd rather have her on a movie than, say, Angelina Jolie, who's more artificial and whose lips at least reek of Botox. V seems to be a natural beauty, rare in these days. Yes, the "hairstyle with wheels" only looks well on a beautiful woman. I just can't imagine how ridiculous would on an otherwise nice chick What can be said about Dépardieu? The scene in which he dictates the lines for his dog to pick the female dog were terribly funny, he doesn't fear ridicule for getting a child (or us) laugh. Congratulations for old Obelix, he will never loose that "inner child" in us! Clovis Cornillac is fine as Asterix. He doesn't get much screen time, but he's resourceful and doesn't want to intrude on the story. I'm glad to see him after his untimely exit from the TV series "Central Nuit", in which he played a pivotal role. Jean-Pierre Cassel as Panoramix was fine, causing one of the best lines: "druid abduction, what has the world become?" The music is fine. If you're moderately into ancient history, there are many funny parts. The different tribes at the chariot's race are worth the price of admission! The very specific "reasons for disqualification" there was my favourite gag. I didn't get much of the sense of "Troubadix", thou that's probably me. I did find funny a very minor character, the Roman athlete. At least, he had the "physique du role", huge, blindly loyal and brutish looking. Obviously had the Romans been half as thick they wouldn't have conquered an Empire, but as a caricature it's funny indeed. I think Irina's father, calculating but not entirely bad dad was a decent villain, thou I suppose his gayness would offend some, for different reasons. The big brute "Humungus" was OK, specially aided by the growl if you are lucky to watch this film in a theatre. Same goes for the Olympics, like javelin, disc, rock and whatever throwing. With a proper surround sound, the Roman stadium is quite immersing for being FX. The takes of César with the sun on his back to highlight his "royalness" were well crafted and got to the point. The cameos in the end were funny, starting from Schummy "forever the best!", (at the chariots), A. Karembeau 's boobs scene. Zinedine Zidane is fun, Sklenarikova is OK. Maybe had the last "party" scene never been shot, we wouldn't have missed it (too "American wannabe"), but I guess it didn't spoil an overall funny and very well made film.

The European sense of humour must be different from the North American one for I thought this movie was genuinely funny. First of all you critics from Europe should always note that a movie is a movie--it stands alone as an object of creativity. It is not a carbon copy of your favorite book or in this case comic book writing. I have not seen the pre-quals to this movie but I think based on this movie I would like them. I like this movie in the tradition of the Carry On films it is campy, slapstick humour and that is all I expect of it. I do not expect Francois Truffaut to crawl out of the grave and direct Alain Delon to a Jules And Jim performance whilst Ingmar Bergman laments in the corner of the screen. I think all of you who lambasted this film should lighten up and judge the film for what it is silly, funny, and at times humorous.