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Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra (Template:Langx) is a 2002 French fantasy comedy film written and directed by Alain Chabat and adapted from the comic book series Asterix by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo. It was the most expensive French film of the time.[1] A critical success, it was also a major box office success in France, becoming its most successful film in 36 years and second biggest commercial success of all time after 1966's La Grande Vadrouille.
Based on the 1965 book Asterix and Cleopatra, which had previously been adapted into a 1968 animated film, it is the second installment in the Asterix film series. Christian Clavier and Gérard Depardieu reprise their roles as Asterix and Obelix, alongside newcomers Jamel Debbouze, Monica Bellucci, Claude Rich, Gérard Darmon, Édouard Baer, Dieudonné, as well as Chabat himself. It is a sequel to Asterix and Obelix vs. Caesar (1999).
Plot
Infuriated by belittlements, Queen Cleopatra makes a deal with Julius Caesar. If the Egyptians built a palace at Alexandria in three months, which is larger than Caesar's palace in Rome, he must acknowledge that Egypt was the greatest of nations. To perform this task, Cleopatra hires the architect Numerobis, on pain of death and much to the dismay of Pyradonis, Cleopatra's customary architect. He and his secretary Papyris discuss the druid Getafix (Panoramix in the original French), whose potion empowers its drinkers; and Numerobis goes in search of him.
Numerobis arrives in Gaul and persuades Getafix to embark with him to Alexandria. Once they arrive, they use the druid's magic potion to speed up the construction (with Cleopatra's permission). Pyradonis realizes he must stop Numerobis from finishing the palace within the deadline by sabotage (such as getting Asterix, Obelix and Getafix lost in a pyramid, or framing them for Cleopatra's failed assassination). After failing multiple times, Pyradonis finally decides to inform Caesar about the potion's use and the potential victory of Cleopatra. Caesar knows the Gauls (having failed to capture their village multiple times) and decides to besiege the construction site until Asterix, Obelix and Getafix surrender. Numerobis, Papyris and the three Gallics defend the site and decide to inform Cleopatra of Caesar's actions. Meanwhile, Pyradonis and Numerobis, after drinking the potion, fight in the site until Numerobis finally wins the duel. Cleopatra arrives on the battlefield and reprimands Caesar's lack of sportsmanship. The Romans are forced to stop the siege and assist in continuing the construction, which is finished on time. The palace is inaugurated, and Caesar counter willingly names Egypt the greatest Empire there ever was. Numerobis wins a large amount of gold, Getafix receives manuscripts from the Library of Alexandria, and all the protagonists partake in a banquet (including some of the movie's Roman antagonists).
Cast
| Character | Actor name |
|---|---|
| Asterix | Christian Clavier |
| Obelix | Gérard Depardieu |
| Numerobis / Edifis | Jamel Debbouze |
| Otis | Édouard Baer |
| Cleopatra | Monica Bellucci |
| Nexusis | Edouard Montoute |
| Julius Caesar | Alain Chabat |
| Getafix | Claude Rich |
| Amonbofis / Criminalis | Gérard Darmon |
| Itinéris (Vodafonis) | Isabelle Nanty |
| Cartapus | Chantal Lauby |
| Sucettalanis | Marina Foïs |
| Caius Céplus | Dieudonné |
| Caius Antivirus | Jean-Paul Rouve |
| Redbeard | Bernard Farcy |
| Chamandra | Noémie Lenoir |
| The taster | Dominique Besnehard |
| Caesar's secretary | Emma de Caunes |
| The tiler | Zinedine Soualem |
| Narrator | Pierre Tchernia |
Additional Actors
- Jean Benguigi (Crustaceous)
- Michel Elias
- Sophie Noël (Redbeard's Daughter)
Voice cast
| Character | English voice |
|---|---|
| Asterix | David Coburn |
| Banquet Doorman | |
| Obelix | Dominic Fumusa |
| Edifis | Yul Vazquez |
| Otis | David Cowgill |
| Cleopatra | Diane Neal |
| Julius Caesar | T. Scott Cunningham |
| Getafix | Philip Proctor |
| Amonbofis | Tom Weiner |
| Cellularservis | Mary Elizabeth McGlynn |
| Kittypus | Edie Mirman |
| Handmaiden | Bridget Hoffman |
| Gluteus Maximus | Lex Lang |
| Caius Lucius | Tom Kenny |
| Gimmeakis | Peggy O'Neal |
| Tiler | Sean McPhillips |
| Narrator | Erik Bergmann |
Additional Voices
- Matt Adler
- Stephen Apostolina (Hutchus, "Superpower" Soldier #2, Flying thru Intersection Soldier)
- Kirk Baily
- Steve Blum (Starskyus, "Superpower" Soldier #1)
- Steve Bulen (Documentary Narrator, Catapult Commander, Slave Driver with Horn)
- Steve Cassling
- David Cowgill (Nazi Commandant, Old Hayseed)
- Dan Edelstein (Roman on Horseback)
- Elisa Gabrielli
- Jason Harris Katz (Young Hayseed, Cat)
- Tom Kenny ("My Bad" Soldier)
- Steve Kramer
- Lex Lang (Jailer, Gaul Forest Centurion)
- Matthew Labyorteaux
- Jonathan Nichols
- Paul Pape
- Philip Proctor (Peg Leg)
- Stuart Robinson (Roman Drill Instructor, Crow's Nest Lookout, Sculptor)
- Lia Sargent (Bloody Beard's Daughter)
- Michael Sorich (Cleopatra's Portraitist, Bribed Boatman)
- Barry Stigler (Crustaceous)
Music
Soundtrack
- "Mission Cleopatra" – Snoop Dogg and Jamel Debbouze
- "Asterix and Cleopatra" – Philippe Chany
- "I Got You (I Feel Good)" – James Brown
- "Yakety Sax" – Boots Randolph
- "The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme)" – John Williams
- "Ti amo" – Umberto Tozzi and Monica Bellucci
- "Chi mai" – Ennio Morricone
- "Walk Like an Egyptian" – Deep Forest feat. Beverly Jo Scott
Release
Theatrical
The film had the widest opening in France at the time, opening on 950 screens.[2]
Home media
In the United Kingdom, it was watched by 570,000 viewers on television during the first half of 2005, making it the most-watched foreign-language film on UK television during that period.[3]