Asterix: The Mansions of the Gods review: The famous Franco-Belgian comic creation returns to the big screen in a CG effort that rivals the best.
Asterix: The Mansions of the Gods review
Asterix has always been a popular comic character, and arguably the most famous Franco-Belgian comic character around (Tintin may wrestle with him there). 325 million books have been sold, and 13 feature films, 4 of them being the competent live-action movies between 1999 and 2012 that were ruined by awful dubbing. The latest attempt makes Asterix CG, and now back in animated form surely the dubbing won’t be anywhere near as distracting. Asterix (Jack Whitehall)lives in a village of Gauls that resist Roman occupation, defending themselves thanks to a magic potion that gives them temporary strength. Along with his best friend Obelix (Nick Frost), who doesn’t need the potion as he fell in a batch when he was baby and has constant powers, the two have fought through many adventures in comical fashion. Asterix: The Mansions of the Gods doesn’t give you any needless backstory, and assumes you’ll at least be familiar with the characters.
In Mansions of the Gods, Caesar (Jim Broadbent) looks to construct a city that will rival Rome, starting with the building of luxury apartments right by the village of the Gauls. At first this erks the locals, but when new residents start paying higher prices for souvenirs and supplies, the Gauls soon embrace their new neighbours, failing to realise that they are facilitating the corruption of their own home and culture. That is, all apart from Asterix, who is wary of these new developments, and uncovers a plot to wipe the Gauls off the map for good.
Asterix: The Mansions of the Gods review
The style and animation of this film are simply beautiful. The characters are lifted straight from the books, but also make the transition into 3D models without any problems whatsoever. They have enough texture added to them that they look like gorgeous stop-motion animated models. They look physical as opposed to computerised, which is helped by lustrous landscapes, fluifity in movement, and wonderful facial expressions. The lighting is the best part however, adding roundness to characters and giving life to scenery. The opening run through the woods with light shining through the leaves just sets the aesthetic bar incredibly high and the rest of the film follows suit.
Fans will be happy that the spirit of the comics is also captured, with great satire, enjoyable slapstick, and some of the most genuinely funny set-ups in cinema this year. Slaves rise up, only to negotiate their way to pay, soldiers go on strike resulting in a commander having to add pleasantries to every order (“FIRE YOUR ARROWS, IF IT’S NOT TOO MUCH TO ASK!”) and sizzling chemistry between all characters. I would have preferred to hear the original vocal cast, but this British translation is still very well suited. Jack Whitehall doesn’t sound like himself, and does have the commanding dominance of a hero, Nick Frost is perfectly cast, while Broadbent adds menace and theatricality to the famous dictator. Matt Berry brings his best buffoonery for Cheiftain Vitalstatistix, and Greg Davies shines as the frustrated and belittled commander Oursenplus.
Asterix: The Mansions of the Gods review
Asterix: The Mansions of the Gods is one of the best animated films of the year, and adds something unique in a sea of Pixar, Dreamworks, and all the other big animation studio films that are all blending together and ending in crappy dance numbers. It stays true to its source without trying to add hip and modern references, while still having a plot that successfully lampoons gentrification, an issue very pertinent across the world today. Stunning, hilarious, action-packed, and suitable for all, this doesn’t need any secret potion to knock out its competitors.
Asterix: The Mansions of the Gods review by Luke Ryan Baldock, August 2016.
Asterix: The Mansions of the Gods is in cinemas now.
