Asterix in Britain

Asterix in Britain is a French animated feature film that sprinkles comedy and adventure throughout its story. This movie was produced in 1986, and showcases some of the delightful characters from the beloved Asterix comic book series. This film stars renowned voice actors Roger Carel, Pierre Tornade, Graham Bushnell and more, whose performances bring life to this wonderful world.

At the core of Asterix in Britain, there is a fresh representation of well known historical events, making it an ingenious fusion of humor and history. The plot takes us back to 50 B.C., where the heroic Gaul Asterix (voiced by Roger Carel) and his loveable, superhuman-strength companion Obelix (voiced by Pierre Tornade) embark on a daring adventure. The story is set against mighty Julius Caesar and his expanding Roman Empire, adding an element of resistance and rebellion, which are unmissable traits in any Asterix comic.

The movie opens with Julius Caesar attacking Britain, where the Britons, unfamiliar with Caesar's strategies and tactics, find themselves in a challenging situation. However, one of the Britons named Anticlimax, decides to seek help from his cousin Asterix, who is the hero of a small but defiant and unconquerable village in Gaul. Thus, our fearless and witted Gaulish hero, Asterix, accompanied by his powerful friend Obelix, set sail to Britain accompanying barrels of their secret superhuman strength potion brewed by the village druid Getafix.

From the chilly winds of the British Isles to the fabulous tea habits, a lot of British stereotypes are humorously explored, making Asterix in Britain an approachable movie for many. However, the film is not just focused on cultural commentary. It effectively grants generous screen time to the adventures and misadventures our heroes engage in. The movie leverages visually engaging scenes where Asterix and Obelix, ingeniously tackle the Roman Empire’s soldiers, adding the much-needed flavor of action to their humorous adventure. To complement the plot and the character portrayal, the animation wonderfully caricatures the contemporary images, mixing cartoonist elements with prominent physical features.

A robust cast of voice actors plays a huge role in the movie’s overall success. Roger Carel, the man behind Asterix's voice, infuses his character with an infectious zest for life and an unassailable spirit, while Pierre Tornade brings Obelix to life with his perfect comedic timing. Graham Bushnell effectively plays the character of Jolitorax, another brave Briton in the story, with a unique charm and mannerism that easily blends with the setting.

Pierre Tchernia, the director of the movie, shines in his presentation of the story, aligning himself closer to the narrative style of the original comic book series. Packed with humor, action, caricatures, and puns, the film delivers the essentials that Asterix fans would expect. However, what makes Asterix in Britain witness a fair deal of universal acceptance is the application of an ‘efficiently exaggerated’ comedic style. The script cleverly incorporates a number of linguistic and cultural puns, offering a light-hearted critique of the British lifestyle but done in a respectful, inoffensive manner.

To pair with the effective narrative and animation, the film's score sets the right mood at different points in the story. Composed by Vladimir Cosma, the score does a commendable job in highlighting the movie's light-hearted, adventurous nature.

The favourable balance between its slapstick and satirical nature renders the movie a must-watch for both the young and the old. The character development and animation are faithful to the original comic book style, which adds an authentic feel to it. The blend of comedy, action, and the light-hearted cultural commentary makes Asterix in Britain one of the successful entries to the Asterix film series. The film challenges historical clichés with fun and an accessible narrative, and successfully adds a layer of wittiness and comedy onto it, making it a unique, enjoyable watch.