Generations of British kids have grown up chuckling at the exploits of Asterix, Obelix, and the rest of the indomitable villagers who hold out against the Romans in occupied Gaul, 50BC.

But they're even more popular in their home country of France, judging from the box office success of 1999's spectacular "Asterix and Obelix Take on Caesar" and this, its equally lavish sequel.

If you're new to this legendary comic book phenomenon, all you need to know is that wily Gaulish warrior Asterix (Clavier) uses a magic potion brewed by local druid Getafix (Rich) that gives him superhuman strength.

(Best friend Obelix, played with gusto by Gérard Depardieu, doesn't need it because he fell in a cauldron of potion when he was a baby.)

The elixir comes in handy when hapless Egyptian architect Edifis ("Amelie" star Jamel Debbouze) begs our heroes to help him build a palace for Cleopatra (Bellucci). His incentive is that he'll be thrown to the crocodiles if he misses his deadline.

So it's off to Egypt they sail, stopping off en route for some routine pirate-bashing and a spot of sight-seeing at the Pyramids and the Sphinx.

Fans of the original will enjoy seeing René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo's characters brought to life, while younger audiences will no doubt appreciate the tongue-in-cheek nods to "Star Wars", "The Matrix", and "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon".

However, there really is no substitute for the books themselves, and the sparkling wit of Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge's English translations is conspicuously lacking here.

In French with English subtitles.