Asterix and Obelix Mission Cleopatra: 4 questions that bother me after seeing the movie for the first time in 2023 (yes)

We have all an essential film that we have not seen. Star Wars, Alien, Forrest Gump…Harry Potter or also titanic (no, really, you, You have no excuses. Write your address in the comment of this article so that I can send you the DVD of the film). I, for some reason, was Asterix and Obelix: Cleopatra mission by Alain Chabat (although I know all the lines of RRRrrrr!!! by Chabat himself, which, however, did not reach the 16 million entries of Gallic adventures).

Fortunately, the director has worked hard to allow for all people who, like me, have lived in a cave for twenty yearsto discover the film in ideal conditions.

For its theatrical release, I therefore went to see Cleopatra mission and it was so good that there is enough to complete everything the film has astoundingtwo decades after its original release.

For people who missed it for 20 years: Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra, what is it about?

Let’s say I’m not the only one in the world who hasn’t seen the film before 2023: Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, decides to challenge Roman emperor Julius Caesarto embed three months a sumptuous palace in the middle of the desert. If he succeeds, he will have to publicly admit that the Egyptian people are the greatest of all peoples.

To do this, Cleopatra uses Numerobis, an avant-garde architect full of energy. If successful, he will cover the gold. If he fails, she will throw him to the crocodiles.

The latter, aware of the challenge that awaits him, asks his old friend for help getafix. The druid travels to Egypt with Asterix and Obelix. On his side, AmonbophisCleopatra’s official architect, jealous of the queen’s choice Numerobis to build the palace, he will do everything possible to defeat his competitor.

1: Did Alain Chabat use magic potion to be so funny?

Twenty years after the film’s release, it has to be repeated again and again. Asterix and Obelix: Cleopatra mission it’s really hilarious: the kind of movies (so rare) that not only give you a few half-smiles here and there, but make you laugh a lot.

When I went to see him, I was afraid all the humor would be based on jokes that weren’t that funny at the time, but they have become cult over time. I got it all wrong: dialogues as absurd as they are brilliant, actors who are absolutely all at the top of their game going through burlesque and comic book inspired gestural comedy, the main challenge throughout the film is to take a second to catch your breath.

2: Why were French comedies produced better twenty years ago?

Everyone agrees that Asterix and Obelix is ​​hilarious, but beyond its humor, I was blown away by the execution. Flawless screenplay, actors all very different but systematic brilliant (special mention to Monica Bellucci who is, in the first instance, a queen of charisma) perfect staging choicesperfect intertwining of comic-style animation cinema and live action… the film is not only fun, is fantastic. We’re far, very farFrom audiovisual porridge stamped Asterix and Obelix: The Middle Kingdom by Guillaume Canet.

If you’re still not convinced that Alain Chabat is more than a funny guy, a virtuoso directorwe advise you to watch only one sequence: that of the construction of the palace I feel good by James Brown. You have to see how the director manages the choreography, the staging of the dancers, the progress of the work, and always the comic moments… thus giving life to a sequence that is a film editing masterclass.

3. Why don’t we talk enough about the cutest character?

It is more discreet than the character of Asterix, Obelix or Numberbis but we can take a few seconds to point out the extreme tenderness of Claude Rich as Panoramix?

Empathic, sensitive AND attentive to the beautiful details in lifethe character always shows a small smile that reflects a deep kindness. We can see this benevolent face even in scenes where it only appears in the background!

Even if he has to respect the rules imposed by the traditions of Druidic science, Getafix does not hesitate to bend the rules to listen to what is dictated to him. his heart and common sense, especially when it decides to help Numérobis. Similarly, when he arrives at the construction site of the pyramid, he constantly points out that the working conditions of the workers are inhumane and invites his friends, who care only about themselves, to listen to the demands of the workers… In short, we keep our favorite character (and of course thatDogmatix comes second.)

4: How did I see him so late?

I already have the answer to this question: no apologies, it was inexcusable. But now it’s better.

Do you like our articles? You will love our newsletters! Sign up for free on this page.