HOUBA! On the Trail of the Marsupilami (2012)

Just perfect...

Best movie ever!

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

Chabat is mostly an acquired taste. He is a goofy light comedian. His movies are in line with the Zucker-Zucker-Abrahams movies. His humour is brave and absurd on a performance level, but ultimately it does not probe or bring any new meaning concerning the human condition. It's just fun.Frankin is a great and original french artist. His world is inhabited by very quirky misfits (Gaston Lagaffe), sometimes by heroic characters (Spirou and Fantasio). In interviews, Chabat has said he has wanted to do something based on Frankin for many years, but the rights to Spirou are all tied up. Then he found a loop hole. Don't go in expecting a straight up adaptation of one of the books, though parts of "Le Nid Du Marsupilami" are in there for sure, including the babies at the end. Chabat brings his own tone and spin on the subject, which probably won't please all the fans. He had the same trouble with Gosciny when he adapted "Asterix Chez Cleopatre". Despite that film's popularity and success, the creator of Asterix hated the Chabat touches and insisted on other film makers for the next instalments (all inferior).Marsupilami has some of the veneer of Frankin's world, through the art design, mostly. Much of Chabat's quirky humour is overlapped on the story. I got a great kick out of the South American dictator who is Celine Dion's #1 fan. The musical number towards the end is right up there for absurd comedy. The CGI is okay for what it is. Marsu is adorable. Some of the other effects are borderline for a film of its budget. The animatronic creatures are very good.Chabat's and DeBouze's performances are excellent. But Lambert Wilson really steals the show.My sons loved it. We are all fans of Didier, Asterix and Cleopatra, RRRrr and City of the Dead.

As with all comic adaptations to live action, there has to be made some sacrifices. I was pleasantly surprised to see how little they changed the Marsupilami. He is cute, funny and he is just like I would imagine the little fellow in real life. The story does not resemble anything really from the comics. Some new characters find the marsupilami. I would have loved to see Spirou and fantasio finding him, but I guess that would be too much to ask for. But then again people would bicker about them instead. All in all one of the better adaptations from comic to screen in recent years. It is funny, cute, adventurous and visually exciting.

Pictures, images, make up are great but I really don't like the actors or even the digital representation of Marsupilami. The poor thing didn't deserve Alain Chabat or even worse with Jamel Debbouze. This is unfaithful for all Franquin's work to get such a nice little animal being screwed by these actors and producers. I appreciate the second roles like Patrick Timsit, Aïssa Maïga, Lambert Wilson or Liya Kebede. Lambert Wilson imitating Céline Dion is the only one great moment with this "something" of Freddy Mercury. Géraldine Nakache is also truly insupportable in this movie, it seems she needs to get some actor's comedy lessons. As for the humor Chabat or Debbouze, you will remain on their traditional not even french jokes, old and stale light far away from the so funny original dialog of Franquin.

I was curious after seeing the previews and there I sat as the theatre went dark and the show started on screen, thinking to myself "I hope this does not suck". I was very happy to see that not only had I not been fooled by the previews, but they actually represented the movie quite well.I laughed, I giggled and then I laughed and laughed again. If you go in expecting a great movie: this is not what it is! This is a beautiful light hearted comedy just like the comic strip was. True to its origins. I left the theatre feeling the same way I felt when I finished one of the comic strips: happy and content.@Alain Chabat: bravo! et merci pour tous ces rires. (which translates to "thanks for all the laughs")