The famous comics characters by Goscinny and Uderzo ride again, this time impersonated by real actors: Obélix by Gérard Depardieu who makes an excellent imitation of the comics character and Astérix by Edouard Baer who doesn't look much like his comics counterpart. The story portrays a pretended help asked by the Queen of Britain from those Gauls that have been resisting for so long in a small village to the Roman invasion since now Julius Caesar has invaded Britain which he intends to conquer. It develops itself in a continuous series of gags and funny situations with somewhat disguised references to political and social usages and practices of our present times. The dialogues above all convey those references on purpose which increases and enhances the funny nature of the respective scenes. For instance the Queen of Britain (performed by the great beautiful actress Catherine Deneuve) dresses practically like she could have dressed nowadays and wears a crown 100% identical to the present British Queen one. Some gags are very good some others not so funny. The special visual effects are first class. The final musical show in the end is fabulous. You may go to see this movie anyway with the assurance that you will have great fun.

Astérix' adaptation are less a matter of animation or live-action than hit or miss. Some convince you that it's time to end the franchise, other that the little Gaul had good days still. I'm glad that the last two opus, the animated "Mansion of the Gods" and the live-action "Asterix and Obelix: God Save Britannia" belong to the more optimism- inducing category.

And by all the Roman and Gallic Gods of animation, it better had to, after that dreadful "Astérix at the Olympic Games", a blockbuster endorsed by Thomas Langmann (Claude Berri's son) with expensive budget, expensive effects and expensive stars to make up for the script's poverty. Yet this piece of business-ridden mediocrity managed to grab six million viewers in 2008 despite the worst critics of the series. And its effect on the fourth was inevitable: "Britannia" had the lowest box office result despite some mixed to positive critics.

I wasn't in a urge to watch the film either, nothing that could convince me that it was going to be better than "Olympic Games". Stellar cast? I'm tired of playing another 'spot-the-star' game… and Deneuve as the Queen, had the same atrocious vibes than Delon as Caesar, not to mention the anachronism. Uderzo's endorsement? Well he supported "Olympic" as well, before changing sides and wishing his Gallic warriors had bigger roles, and who can trust the judgment of someone who despised Alain Chabat's "Mission Cleopatra".

Speaking of Chabat, was the director as much a fan of Astérix? Well, Laurent Tirard directed the "Little Nicholas" movies, also adapted from Goscinny's stories… so there was a connection. Besides, "Asterix in Britain" is one of the most entertaining book, and inspired one of the best animated adaptations, so it could join "Cleopatra" as the only adventure to be adapted in the three formats. Besides, the film couldn't be worse than the previous, well, Tirard not only made a more watchable film, but a more rewatchable one too.

And if the CGI aren't less overused, the're less irritating because you finally have something to distract you from then, starting right at the opening scene, with the pirates' boat mercilessly sunk by the Roman fleet. First surprise: the ill-fated red- bearded Captain is played by Gérard Jugnot. I don't know if it's a nod to the fact that he first wanted to direct the third live-adaptation (a project whose refusal lead to the 2008 disaster) but his presence is a way to come full circle with these bad memories. And the good omen is immediately confirmed by another reassuring presence: Fabrice Luchini as Julius Caesar.

Luchini is known as an intellectual actor whose trademark is to embark viewers into delirious monologues with deliberately histrionic gestures and over-the-top deliveries. He's so unlike Caesar, and the genuinely pedantic Delon, that the gag works by a simple contrast effect. Then the film goes faster with the conquest of Britannia (owing to the exploitation of their peculiar time schedules) and the story takes off when Jolithorax is assigned a mission to bring the magic potion to the last British village resisting the invaders. At that point, I was thinking that if the film maintained itself to this level, it would be all right, but then one sight made me 'uh-oh!' the Chief's Lutetian nephew, cocky as cowardly, Justfokix. Didn't he have his shining moment in the "Vikings" animated film already? What was he doing here?

Apparently, the screenwriters decided to inject the Vikings story as a subplot, and much to my surprise, not only it didn't distract from the British story line, but it kind of redeemed a few aspects I criticized from the "Vikings" animated film. I wish it could show Obelix throwing Justforkix off the bed, and that we could have the (in the book, magnificently drawn) scene where the poor frightened kid, laying on the ground, is surrounded by towering Vikings and their Chief solemnly asks him to scare them. I got these two parts and it felt like another loop-closing moment, the subplot perfectly grafted to the main story-line, almost improving what it could have been had it stuck on the comic-book material.

By the way, "Asterix in Britain" is a peculiar story, I just read the book and I realized that the animated film improved many parts of it, including the… McGuffin, just like the Vikings, when the director takes liberties with the story or insert characters, it's always for good pay-offs. There's an Indian migrant played by Atmen Kelif, Ophelia, Jolithorax' love interest played by a magnificent Charlotte Lebon, and the rigid and straight-laced Miss MacIntosh played by Valérie Lemercier. These additional characters, unlike the previous film, are integral to the story's appeal, because "God Save Britannia" is also a movie that deals with relationships, maybe more than any other Astérix adaptation.

The film questions the Gallic manners with women, the rivalry with Britons, and takes an iconoclast turn when Asterix realizes that his friendship with Obélix prevent him from enjoying his freedom or looking for a life partner of feminine persuasion. Edouard Baer, who was in Chabat's film, is an unforgettable Astérix and his chemistry with Obélix (Depardieu, who else?) leaves no doubt. Meanwhile, Justforkix has to prove his value as a man while Jolithorax, tries to overcome his "gentlemanly" rigidity, and Ophélia plays a central role in their 'evolution'. The film has the merit to play with things that the fans take for granted, and this is what we expect from an adaptation, to explore new dimensions.

The film was criticized for not taking too much risks, well, it did take a few gutsy moves with the characters, even making them more important than the plot itself and maybe it had good reasons to keep a low-profile, given how atrociously flashy was the predecessor, and for such a disastrous story. And maybe this is the greatest lesson the French can learn from the British, to learn to let some things 'understated'...

Amusing and fun adventure with Asterix and his faithful friend Obelix fighting Romans in Britain. This was the fourth live-action version of the popular Astérix & Obélix comic books . The diminutive Asterix (Edouard Baer who in 'Asterix and Cleopatra' played a role called Otis) and his rather larger companion Obelix (Gerard Depardieu) , warriors of the last village in Gaul still free after the Roman invasion, set out on a mission to deliver a barrel of their druid's famous magic potion to help Asterix's cousin in Britain fight off the invading Roman army . The year is approximately 50 B. C, Britain is entirely occupied by the Romans commanded by Julius Caesar . Well, not entirely..One small village of indomitable Bretons still holds out against the invaders . And the life is not easy for the Roman legionaries who garrison the fortified camps. Similarly happens on Gaul, where a small village located in Armorica live our friends, the intelligent hero Asterix, the menhir delivery and addicted to wild boar Obelix, the venerable Panoramix with his potion which gives the drinker incredible energy, the majestic,hot-tempered, brave chief of the tribe Abraracourcix... There come a Asterix's cousin asking for help against Romans. As always the perilous mission is immediately trusted to shrewd and cunning Asterix . Obelix, ready to drop everything and go off on a new adventure with Asterix and this time accompanied by Goudurix (Vincent Lacoste) and Jolitorax (Guillaume Gallienne de la Comédie Française) . Asterix and Obelix then cross the channel to help second-cousin face down Julius Caesar (Fabrici Luchini) and invading Romans . As they set out to deliver a barrel plenty of powerful potion getting superhuman strength and brewed by druid Panoramix . His mission transport it for the Britons and vanquish the invaders ; fighting , as always, against the stupid Romans , pirates and a mean Julius Caesar .

This is a nice adventure with hilarious moments here and there , and has Asterix and his inseparable friend battling , as usual, against silly Romans . Full of customs critical about actual British way of life and modern anachronisms that's common thing in comic books . The cartoon movie brilliantly captures the outrageous adventures, tongue-in-check, satire , absurd humour from original story with the same title and drawn by Albert Uderzo and writing credits by Rene Goscinny . Based on René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo's "Asterix in Britain" and "Asterix and the Normans", both published in 1966 . As usual, on the finale the village people celebrating a wild party and eating boars in a gargantuan lunch . Being an European co-production there appears several known French actors such as Catherine Deneuve as Reine Cordelia , Charlotte Lebon as Ophélia , Dany Boon as Têtedepiaf , Jean Rochefort as Lucius Fouinus , Gérard Jugnot as Le Capitaine des pirates ; Spanish players such as Tristan Ulloa , Javivi and Italian such as Luca Zingaretti .

Jolly and lively musical score by Klaus Badlet with a catching song on the start and the ending . Colorful cinematography filmed on location in Wicklow Town, County Wicklow, Ireland , England, UK , France , Hungary and Malta . The motion picture was professionally directed by Laurent Tirard . This passable fourth entry shot in live acting was preceded by ¨Asterix vs Caesar¨ directed by Claude Zidi with Christian Clavier , Robert Benigni , Laetitia Casta , Arielle Dombasle , ¨Asterix and Cleopatra¨ by Alain Chabat with Monica Belucci , Jamel Debbouze ,Claude Rich , Marina Fois , Gérard Darmon and ¨Asterix and the Olympic Games¨ by Frederic Forrestier with Clovis Cornillac , Santiago Segura, Monica Cruz , Jean Pierre Castaldia and Janel Debouzze . The film appeal like to Asterix and Obelix fans , it's a funny entertaining for kids and grown-ups and nostalgics