

Meanwhile, Asterix and Obelix discover these developments and set off to rescue Justforkix. Justforkix is naturally terrified - but doesn't count on falling for the chief's daughter, Abba. It isn't long before Olaf overhears Justforkix's confession that he is the laziest person in the known world, and decides to kidnap the young man and throw him off a cliff to watch him fly. The Gallic men are hindered in their efforts by Justforkix's sheer lack of interest - it seems he'd rather shuffle off to the local discothčque or meet girls than fight Romans. In that locale, diminutive Viking warrior Asterix and the enormous, mustachioed strongman Obelix attempt to teach teenage layabout Justforkix (the nephew of village chief Vitalstatistix) to reinvent himself as a tireless, bellicose warrior. As Timandahaf, his counselor Cryptograf, and Cryptograf's son Olaf set forth to locate this person (christened 'The Champion of Fear,') the action shifts to the territory of Gaul. Timandahaf, the chief of the Vikings, hears the age-old maxim "Fear lends one wings," and interprets it literally - believing that the most craven person in the world can actually teach him to fly. As the eighth animated Asterix feature in thirteen years, the Stefan Fjeldmark and Jesper Mřller-directed ASTERIX AND THE VIKINGS opens in Ancient Europe, at the Vikings' mountain fortress.Rene Goscinny was born in Paris in 1926, and spent most of his childhood in Argentina, before eventually moving to Paris in 1951. For the most part, however, Fjeldmark keeps to the spirit if not the letter of this durable kids' favourite, while Giamatti's gruff irascibility fits his character as snugly as his familiar winged helmet. Asterix the Gaul, their first album, was published in 1961 and there have now been 33 Asterix albums. Wood's participation is one of several embellishments made to the original that will have purists up in arms. "KEEPS TO THE SPIRIT OF THE KIDS' FAVOURITE" Fortunately, he has an ally in the enemy camp in the shapely form of Abba (Evan Rachel Wood), the spunky daughter of the Viking chief determined to prove she can pillage with the best of them. Callow and lily-livered, he's the perfect guinea-pig for a horde of Norsemen who've sailed south to learn the meaning of fear on the deluded belief that it really can "lend you wings". Taking its story from Asterix And The Normans, the ninth adventure to feature the little French warrior with the big moustache, Vikings sees our two boar-loving friends play second banana to Justforkix (Astin), a brash teenager from 'Parisium' with little patience for country ways. Still, younger fans won't be disappointed by a well-mounted outing, whose English-language version boasts spirited contributions from Sideways' Paul Giamatti and Frodo's mate Sean Astin. Fidelity only goes so far though in Stefan Fjeldmark's feature, which loses its way the further it veers from its source. The world of the Vikings is brought to life through the journey of Ragnar Lothbrok, the first Viking to emerge from Norse legend and onto the pages of history a man on the edge of myth.

After two live-action turns starring Gérard Depardieu, Asterix And The Vikings goes back to basics, returning the indomitable Gaulish hero of the perennially popular comic books to his traditional cartoon form.
