‘Astérix & Obélix: The Big Fight’ Review

Picture Credit: 2025 Les éditions Albert René / Goscinny – Uderzo / NETFLIX

Based on one of many problems with the hit French comics authored by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo, The Big Fight marks Netflix France’s first foray into the premium animated collection area. As the franchise has spawned many animated and live-action motion pictures over 40 years, they name on some of the skilled captains of its diversifications: Alain Chabat, author and director of the 2002 Mission Cleopatra film, which was an everlasting smash hit each in France and globally. But did he achieve carrying this new journey to the display?

After greater than 60 years within the world libraries, one ought to know what to anticipate from an Astérix journey: absurd encounters, peculiar supporting characters, a very good heap of misplaced Roman vanity from Julius Caesar and his legions, and lastly, one epic battle or motion piece to finish all of it. Nevertheless, its household audiences have confirmed to nonetheless be in love with the Gallic village of Astérix, the final bastion of resistance to Rome, as new albums proceed to hit shops each few years, despite the fact that the collection creators, Albert Uderzo and René Goscinny, are actually lengthy gone. (And at the least yet one more function movie is in improvement for French theaters from StudioCanal, whose longtime writer Hachette is now its sister firm). 

A superb guess for Netflix to start out delving into French premium animated collection, whereas its American counterparts have had no scarcity of occasions within the style over the previous decade (extra not too long ago Blue Eye Samurai). And the large “get” to jot down and direct can also be a positive factor: Alain Chabat has been each a beloved French comic for greater than 40 years, not too long ago getting a supporting actor César award for Beating Hearts (L’Amour Ouf), and a celebrated author and director whose first two motion pictures have been large hits. The second one was an adaptation of an Astérix journey, Mission Cleopatra, which was the uncommon French blockbuster to be celebrated by each critics and audiences alike. Chabat, then, is adapting in 5 episodes the 1966 album The Big Fight (Le Combat des Chefs), with legendary film producer Alain Goldman by his aspect, co-writer and co-director Benoît Ouillon, and one other co-writer nicknamed Piano. Oh, and conserving with the solely Gallic custom, a Toulouse-based studio named TAT has the Herculean activity of rendering in 3D the interior desires of the undertaking’s mastermind. No strain, then.

The Big Fight finally ends up being, certainly, the sum of all its components, and might be seen as an enormous Gallic tent that’s stable on its foundations. Yes, Chabat is voicing Astérix, however his ensemble voice solid makes it work, from Gilles Lellouche as cussed Obélix to Thierry Lhermitte as Getafix, the druid, and a number of confirmed comedy names to ship actually sturdy performances all through. The story borrows plenty of the beats from the comedian guide: Caesar discovers he could make the Gallic resistants bend the knee through the use of their very own legal guidelines, and having a Roman-Gallic chief attempt to beat them to a good battle. The muscular man for the job is Vitalstatistix, and the village turns into endangered when the druid Getafix is unintentionally knocked out and forgets the recipe of the magic potion… Therefore, threatening to finish the invincibility of Astérix.

All of that is merely a canvas. The Big Fight continually elevates its supply materials by stunning the viewers and enhancing the fabric, by – mild spoilers – proposing an origin story, introducing extra feminine characters, comparable to Goth witch Apothika, hilariously voiced by actress and singer Jeanne Balibar, and, greater than ever, continually upping the visible ante. Chabat is a comic book guide buff and a visible artist in his personal proper, having shepherded the 2010 adaptation of the Marsupilami, which made its approach onto IMAX screens. But he by no means makes use of the present to make it a senseless household journey with cartoon violence, and even make an exhausting showcase for sensible puns or pop-culture references. Instead, The Big Fight appears to know instinctively methods to use the potential to do both on the proper time, usually shining with the comedian timing of a seasoned grasp who has studied all of the greats to cook dinner a fragile comedian meal.

Every sip of the magic potion explodes into fluorescent tints that make greater than a nod to the Spider-Verse motion pictures. Any and each fashion of animation, from 8-bit to preschool exhibits, makes its approach onto the present in a tour de drive for animation studio TAT. But, principally, it by no means sacrifices its important duo of Astérix and Obélix, diving into their brotherhood to earn emotional beats and good character arcs. The present even dares to make its anti-imperialistic message prevalent, whether or not it’s with an irreverent nod to a well-known music you’ll uncover for your self, or inside its climax. What is much more spectacular is the sensation that there’s something for each phase of Astérix followers, from youthful children to youngsters to older generations of uber-fans, but the undertaking by no means tries to please everybody or enchantment to a selected group. Nothing that’s tried appears like overkill, whether or not it’s dwelling on plot factors too lengthy, or making callbacks to the plethora of pop-culture references, and even making the Romans purposefully dumber than they really are.

Watch Astérix & Obélix: The Big Fight If You Liked 

• The Adventures Of Tintin
• Mission Cleopatra
• Maya and The Three

The Verdict

Delivers laughs, spectacular cartoon sequences, sturdy character arcs for its very well-known central duo, and surprises on equal footing. Just just like the Gallic village, this one is gonna be laborious to defeat by way of high quality this 12 months. It’s additionally a powerful begin if Netflix orders extra premium unique animated collection.

Astérix & Obélix: The Big Fight arrives on Netflix globally on April thirtieth.