A prime example that the worse thing you can do with a classic story is try an update it with clunky modern references and poor attempts at americanisation.

The entire Asterix series from the original comic stories to the early animated outings and even the decidely uneven live -action adaptations dripped with Gallic wit and charm, everything from the clever little jokes with the characters names and the various adventures that Asterix, Obelix and Co embarked on were a refreshing break from the staid ideas that often stifle Anglo-American counterparts. With Asterix and the Vikings however the shoehorning of unfamiler themes really does damge the movie. The character Justforkix is a hugely annoying creation, a brattish modern teenager that wouldn't be out of place in a poor Disney cartoon and the movies attempt at romance between him and the aptly named Viking Abba really doesn't work in the context of an Asterix adventure. Asterix is about crazy escapades and interesting locations not run of the mill romance and boring backdrops (by the standards of Asterix the Viking settings are sleep inducing) and if they were to do the romance angle right then they should have read Asterix and Cleopatra to get a sense of how to do it with humour.

Admittidly not everything here is bad, the voice casting is inspired especially using Paul Giamatti to voice Asterix, his tone is perfectly suited to the character and the Asterix Obelix banter is always amusing. Thumbs up to the animation as well which is about as good as you could imagine 2D being in quality.

But brief moments of fun don't make up for a sub-par overall product, (which includes a pretty stupid Rocky montage rip-off) leaving this the worse Asterix adaptation one is likely to see, almost makes me pine for Craig Charles to resume his Asterix voicing duties.

C