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Asterix and Obelix Take On Caesar
Astérix & Obélix contre César
1999 109 min France, Germany, Italy 18+
★6.5
Family, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
Director: Claude Zidi
Trailers
Description
Set in 50 B.C., Asterix and Obelix are living in a small but well-protected village in Gaul, where a magic potion concocted by Druids turns the townsfolk into mighty soldiers. When Roman troops carve a path through Gaul to reach the English Channel, Caesar and his aide de camp Detritus discover the secret elixir and capture the Druid leader who knows its formula, and Asterix and Obelix are sent off to rescue them.
Budget:
$48.5M
US Gross:
$1.54M
Worldwide:
$101.64M
Starring
Christian Clavier
Actor
Gérard Depardieu
Actor
Roberto Benigni
Actor
Awards
César Awards 2000
— Best Production Design
Key opinion
Asterix & Obelix vs. Caesar is widely celebrated as a charming, faithful, and quintessential French comedy that successfully captures the spirit of its source material. Audiences praise the film for its high-quality production design, strong performances, and enduring rewatchability compared to later franchise installments.
| Acting | Christian Clavier and Gérard Depardieu deliver a definitive, high-chemistry portrayal of the iconic duo, balancing the cunning nature of Asterix with the naive strength of Obelix. | |
| Production | The production design, including sets, costumes, and makeup, creates a lush, immersive environment that successfully brings the aesthetic of the comic books to life. | |
| Direction | Claude Zidi provides a masterful directorial hand, blending fantasy, history, and humor into a family-friendly film that avoids the vulgarity found in other genre comedies. | |
| Score | Jean-Jacques Goldman’s soundtrack is frequently highlighted as a soulful, catchy element that elevates the film's nostalgic and fairytale-like atmosphere. | |
| Acting | Roberto Benigni is widely lauded as a standout comedic force, with many viewers finding his slippery, villainous performance as Detrigus to be the most memorable part of the film. | |
| Production | While most audiences find the CGI and visual effects to be high-quality and seamless for their time, opinions on Depardieu's physical suitability for the role of Obelix vary, with some noting he appears slightly too thin for the character's traditional proportions. |