Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
French comic character saves ancient Gaul in animated tale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Asterix: The Mansions of the Gods
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
ASTERIX: THE MANSIONS OF THE GODS presents a Roman emperor Julius Caesar who is often whiny and sometimes maniacal and sometimes diabolical (his advisers can't make up their minds). He's bent on conquering the last hold-out village in Gaul, part of the Western European area he had conquered during his ancient reign. Asterix, a small but feisty Gaul warrior, is at the heart of the village's rebellion, goading Caesar to keep turning to stranger and stranger methods to eradicate the rebels. This time he orders the construction of luxury apartments in the middle of the Gaul's forested turf. He then sends Romans, whether they like it or not, to live there and outnumber the stubborn Gauls. The Gauls, who love nothing more than a big fight, and especially a fight with Romans, are corralled by Asterix, who advises them to use force only when necessary and never on civilians. When that necessity arises, he gulps down a magic potion designed by the village's Druid priest, Getafix, to imbue him with superhuman strength. Roman warriors are scared of Asterix and his best friend, the hulking, super-strong Obelix, and often surrender or retreat rather than battle. Much of the humor depends on rampant cartoon violence and sophisticated speech by unlikely characters, such as soldiers and Roman slaves.
Is It Any Good?
This funny French animated movie is entertaining for kids who are comfortable reading subtitles. The English subtitles rapidly streak across the screen in Asterix: The Mansions of the Gods as Gauls make clever quips in French, which means that kids young enough to enjoy this most might have a difficult time keeping up with the reading. The animation quality is good though unremarkable, but the notion that small, ill-equipped ancient rebels can use their wiles and a magic potion to continue to thwart the juggernaut Roman army will probably delight little kids.
Some of the vocabulary will be over the heads of younger kids but will entertain the grown-ups watching along with them. A Roman slave is clearly far more intelligent than the soldiers ordering him around, and he manages to negotiate freedom through the use of politeness and flowery language, which others use as well: "figuratively," "avaricious," "eradicated," "invincible,' and "indomitable." Roman soldiers catch the contagion and start requiring that their general ask them nicely when the time comes to attack the enemy. "Be so kind as to fire."
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about cartoon violence. How do we know we can laugh at it instead of worrying about the characters' safety?
What makes Asterix and his villagers funny in Asterix: The Mansions of the Gods? Does the fact that they like to fight make them scary or funny?
Asterix is a Belgian-French character. Do you think kids all over the world find the same things funny?
Movie Details
- In theaters : June 23, 2016
- On DVD or streaming : December 12, 2017
- Cast : Roger Carel , Lorant Deutsch , Laurent Lafite , Alan Chabat , Guillaume Briat , Phillippe Morier-Genoud
- Directors : Louis Clichy , Alexandre Uderzo
- Studio : Kaleidoscope Home Entertainment
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Run time : 85 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : March 13, 2020
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