Asterix: The Secret of the Magic Potion

CinemaSerf 12/26/2024 7:32:31PM 8.4

When the elderly "Panoramix" has an incident with the mistletoe tree, he starts to feel his age and recruits "Asterix" and "Obelix" to try and find someone suitable to be the next custodian of the formula for the magical potion that has thus far enabled them to stay free from the all-conquering legions of Caesar. In what amounts to a scenario that wouldn't have looked out of place on telly's "Generation Game", would-be successors assemble to demonstrate their elixir mixing skills with varying degrees of success (and danger) and instilling little confidence in their mentor. Meantime, there is also a bit of duplicity going on as the Gauls have a fifth-columnist amongst them who is prepared to provide this to Caesar and so betray his brave colleagues. With the heavily armed legions never far away, and time running out, things aren't looking so hot for "Asterix". Can they find their man? I quite enjoyed this. It's quickly paced with loads of daft antics going on as the story evolves. There's some magical pyrotechnics, some light comedy slapstick and well the Caesar character is the spitting image of Kenneth Williams and a character called "Fantasmagorix"! Maybe ninety minutes is a bit of a stretch, and it certainly takes a bit of a bath mid-way through, but for most of it, it's quite an entertaining romp through the histories of ancient Rome and France, taking some fun pokes at the both as it rolls along.