The absolute biggest reaction — the one title that got resounding, thunderous applause — was a home-grown franchise: “Astéerix & Obelix.” Created by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo as a comic book series about two Gaulish warriors fighting the misfortunes of the Roman Republic in the time of Caesar (with the help of a magic potion), Asterix and Obelix are two of the most iconic characters in French popular culture. It is the best-selling comic book series in history after “One Piece,” while Astéerix & Obelix themselves have been around in some form since 1959. Based on the reaction during the Netflix presentation at Annecy, the franchise’s popularity hasn’t wavered.
Directed by Alain Chabat (no stranger to the characters, having directed “Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra”) and Fabrice Joubert (the Oscar-nominated short film “French Roast”), “Asterix & Obelix: The Big Fight” shares a title with the seventh comic book in the series, in which the Romans suggest ending their humiliation by the Gauls with a final showdown between the chief of the Gallo-Romans and the chief of Asterix’s tribe. The footage looks just like a comic book brought to life, filled with gags, action, and onscreen onomatopoeia, which reflects the zaniness of the source material.
The versatility of the comic and the characters, combined with the unique setting and sense of humor, makes “Asterix and Obelix” a timeless franchise, but having Alain Chabat on board certainly helps to keep the essence of the characters intact. Even for those unfamiliar with the franchise, the footage looks like a fun, action-packed adventure armed with beautiful animation and a great sense of humor. In an era of IP and franchises, two of the most exciting movies coming out have been around for decades, and they never really left.
