Review: Asterix and the Secret of the Magic Potion

Posted on 13 June, 2019

France’s greatest hero, Asterix the Gaul, hits the silver screen in a new 3D animated outing, and accompanied by his best friend Obelix is once again ready to defend their village against Roman invaders.

Meanwhile Getafix the Druid looks for a successor to pass the recipe of his magic potion that gives Asterix and his friends superhuman strength.

Friends who have suffered through my sotto voce grumblings about historical inaccuracies in films like Gladiator and Pompeii may be surprised at my deep and abiding love for a French comic book that rewrites Roman history.

As each comic book famously begins, in 50 BC all Gaul (modern day France and Belgium) is under the control of Rome. All, that is, except for one small village, whose inhabitants love to fight each other as much as they love fighting Roman legionaries.

Now if you try to find a mention of this indomitable village in the works of Suetonius, Tacitus or even Gibbons, you’ll be sorely disappointed. That’s not to say there is nothing worth learning in this comic book series – long before I had ever picked up a text book I knew Julius Caesar’s name, was in awe of Cleopatra, and had an inkling that Brutus should be kept away from knives. And that is all thanks to Asterix.

In the ’70s and ’80s, a steady stream of Asterix comics made their way between my family home in Griffith and my big sister’s apartment in Canberra. The books where hers and she generously turned a blind eye to her little sister raiding her bookshelves.

Not only were the stories fun to read, but they also expanded my vocabulary with witty puns and wordplay. Even now I can learn a new word and an Asterix joke I first read 30 years ago falls into place. In fact, it was only much later that I understood why the name of someone brewing a magic potion would be pronounced Get-a-fix (his name is actually Panoramix in the French version). That delightful silliness is thanks to the genius of Anthea Bell who translated the French originals into hilarious English versions.

First published in 1969 with stories by René Goscinny and illustrations by Albert Uderzo, Asterix and his friends turn 60 this year and their adventures have been translated into 100 languages and sold an estimated 370 million copies. They’re not just a fun ride through history, they’ve always had a bit of contemporary satire woven through – I’d love to know what Asterix would have to say about Brexit.

A new film, Asterix and the Secret of the Magic Potion, celebrates that long legacy, with computer-generated animation that is faithful to the original look of the characters. This isn’t the first Asterix film that’s been released in the last 60 years. Both animated and live action versions have hit the big screen, with Gerard Depardieu even portraying the statuesque Obelix (which frankly took more suspension of disbelief than all the historical inaccuracies combined).

The film gives a 3D quality to the classic illustrations, it’s as if my plastic Asterix figurines have come to life and started running amok (yes I have Asterix figures, are you really surprised?).

For someone so used to the page drawings it takes some getting used to, but the film’s opening sequence had me genuinely laughing out loud as the characters race across the screen to Dead or Alive’s 1985 You Spin Me Right Round. I honestly have no idea why that song was chosen but it was a lot of fun to hear.

All the gang from Asterix’s village is included, from chief Vitalstatistix, tone-deaf bard Cacofonix, to fishmonger Unhygienix and, of course, Obelix’s beloved canine companion Dogmatix.

The magic potion is still the secret to their victories over the surrounding Roman forts but now there’s a welcome update with the village’s female inhabitants also sharing in both the potion and the fighting.

All is peaceful in the village until Getafix begins to fear his abilities are fading and that he needs to hand on the secret of the magic potion to a successor. Trouble starts to brew when Demonix, a jealous rival and discredited Druid, hears of this quest and proposes a cunning plan to Julius Caesar himself.

This is an entirely new story, not based on any of the books, and although it doesn’t quite live up to the wit of the comic it’s a fun outing.

All the characters get a moment to shine, and even the usually maligned Cacofonix is almost heroic. There’s a great scene where the Gauls and Romans find themselves on the same side against a common enemy, showing even foes can find common ground.

If you or your kids are new to Roman history and the world of Asterix, see the film and then read the comic books. Cross the Rubicon and take a step back in time. It might not be historically accurate but it is a lot of fun.

Asterix and the Secret of the Magic Potion is showing at Dendy. Heather saw the film at Dendy as the guest of Icon Distribution.