Gaston Lagaffe

Based on the classic comic strip, Gaston Lagaffe is the first film adaptation to be made since the 1981 unofficial attempt Fais Gaffe a La Gaffe! Which was unsuccessful.

This new take on Gaston was equally critically panned. And yet, there is something refreshing about this film, especially after the disastrous Spirou and Fantasio's Big Adventures, another comic book adaptation also released in 2018. For a start, there is a palpable effort being made here: the filmmakers appear to be familiar with the general idea of what Gaston is all about and certainly try to put it across as best they can.

The cast, the costumes, character dynamics and many of the gags all feel appropriate, close enough to the comic strips, at least. The Spirou movie failed to even scratch the surface of what it should have been but this makes a valiant attempt and ends up having a good amount of charm. Unfortunately, the jokes often don't land. Translating the mostly slapstick humor of the strips, and Franquin's iconic art style, was always going to be a challenge and, while this movie gives it its best shot, it doesn't quite hit the mark in terms of the humor.

The script needed to be a lot sharper. There are some good lines and genuinely amusing moments, however, that should definitely be enough to keep younger viewers, and the young at heart, entertained.

The special effects are also hit or miss and changing the setting from a magazine to a company that turns pointless items into useful ones will prove a bit jarring to those familiar with the comics. Critics were unjustly harsh on this film. It really isn't bad. In fact, it's an endearingly silly and laid back cartoon, much like Gaston himself. And, like Gaston, it's clever and clumsy in equal amounts so you might resist its charms for a little while, it'll annoy you a bunch, but it'll win you over.

Cute.

To start with the plus-side:

Fans of the comics will find literally 100s of details of all kind all over the movie, be it the outfits, Gastons questionable recipes, the evolution of his vehicle, his pets, the archaic instrument, the lighthouse (Ph*** batteries anyone?), the sweet relation to Jeanne....

Jeanne is great and many other essential characters are well transferred to the screen and presence.

One can somewhat live with the decision of some e-commerce startup instead of a publishing company, though, some of the originals subtones and interactions with other people in the office do get lost by that.

Also, the choice of the location with a big open spaces makes sense for storytelling (reminding me of the Jerry Lewis classic "The Ladies Man") and filming, compared to narrow rooms and hallways.

The major fail is the choice and depiction of Gaston himself and the shallow story. Of course, there has to be some story to being pushed ahead and the original cartoons don't have one (apart from the Bravo Brothers).

A better script would have boosted the overall impression.

In Belgium, André Franquin is an icon among cartoon authors, the creator of, inter alia, Spirou et Fantasio (Robbedoes en Kwabbernoot, in the Dutch translated version) and... Gaston Lagaffe (Guust Flater). "Une gaffe", "een flater", is a screw-up, a blunder, a goof (cf. Goofy). The cartoons are old (created in 1957) and they constitute a weekly running gag (of a half or one page) about an office boy. He "works" at the offices of the cartoon journal in which he appears (Spirou), and if he is not sleeping, he spends his time inventing totally useless contraptions. He likes to economise, and he is environment-friendly when no-one ever thought about it. Hence, he drives an ancient Fiat (at least, I believe it is a Fiat) so as not to spend money on a modern car, and he has converted the engine to coal (!) - a World War II necessity when petrol was scarce - so as not to pollute by burning gasoline and to save money. Obviously, the car (when it runs, as it always breaks down) pollutes unbelievably and coal is much more expensive than petrol if used for this purpose. This illustrates perhaps the difficulties a director is up against when he tries to transfer the gags (there is no real story) to the screen. I doubt whether many young viewers know about coal gas, and where would he buy the coal? So, Martin-Laval has tried to modernise the environment and the gags. He has - predictably - succeeded only partially. Nevertheless, the actor who plays Gaston (Théo Fernandez) remarkably resembles the character, with his typical slouch and attitude. Gaston's impossible pets (a cat, OK, but also a grouchy seagull and a goldfish) are (not too good) CGI. Try to imagine keeping a seagull as a permanent pet in an office. This was Monty Python before it was invented. The purists baulk, of course. But if one keeps in mind that this is a children's movie, the makers have not done a bad job. It is good for some laughs, even for adults, if one suspends disbelief. I do not know what the reaction would be of someone who is not familiar with the cartoons, but it may be problematic. I believe this is also the reason for the failure of Tintin as a movie. The connoisseurs hate it and the rest of the audience lacks the full background of the stories.

Taken as a light family-friendly comedy, the 2018 Gaston Lagaffe movie attempts to capture the whimsical spirit of the original comics. It incorporates several well-known elements and characters from the beloved series, adapting them to fit a modern setting and a 90-minute runtime. For fans of the comics, this adaptation can be seen as a passable effort, offering some enjoyable moments and a few laughs along the way.

One of the film's strengths is its visual style, which successfully translates the cartoonish look of the comics into a live-action format. The vibrant colors, exaggerated expressions, and slapstick humor are reminiscent of the original artwork, which helps maintain a connection to the source material. The casting is also notable, with actors who embody the quirky personalities of the characters. Gaston, in particular, is portrayed with a charming mix of naivety and mischief that fans will recognize.

However, despite these positive aspects, the movie falls short in a few key areas. While it retains some of the charm of the original comics, it struggles to capture the manic energy and rapid-fire gags that make the comics so beloved. This is partly due to the constraints of fitting a series of episodic jokes into a cohesive 90-minute story. The pacing sometimes feels uneven, with certain scenes dragging on longer than necessary, while others rush through what could have been more developed comedic setups.

Personally, I think the comic's gags and energy, if adapted faithfully, would be better suited to cartoon shorts, similar to the format used by Looney Tunes. The frenetic pace and over-the-top humor of the Gaston Lagaffe comics seem more naturally at home in short bursts rather than a feature-length film. This format would allow for the quick succession of gags and scenarios that fans of the comics have come to love, without the need to shoehorn them into a longer narrative structure.

Another aspect worth discussing is the film's attempt to modernize certain elements. While updating the setting and some cultural references helps to make the story more relatable to contemporary audiences, it sometimes feels at odds with the nostalgic charm of the original comics. The humor, too, has been slightly adjusted, and while some jokes land well, others feel forced or out of place compared to the timeless nature of the comic strips.

On a more positive note, the movie works for a casual viewing experience, especially for families with children who might not be familiar with the original comics. The lighthearted tone and slapstick comedy can be entertaining for younger viewers, and there are enough visual gags to keep them engaged. Additionally, for those new to the Gaston Lagaffe universe, the movie provides an accessible introduction to the characters and their antics, even if it doesn't fully encapsulate what makes the comics special.

Overall, the Gaston Lagaffe movie provides a mix of nostalgia and modern comedy but doesn't quite hit the mark in bringing the full essence of the source material to the screen. It's a commendable effort that offers some enjoyable moments but falls short of capturing the frenetic energy and rapid-fire humor that make the comics so enduringly popular. For die-hard fans of the comics, it might be a bit of a letdown, but it still serves as a passable, family-friendly comedy that can be appreciated for what it is. My final rating would be 5/10, acknowledging its merits while also recognizing its shortcomings. 5/10.

As much as I can love Pef (Pierre-François Martin-Laval), I didn't find the magic of Gaston in this movie. Transforming a comic that works generally with one page gags in a long feature seems an impossible feat (the only examples I can think of French or Belgian comics successfully converted in a movie are full comic books).

To come back to the movie, if the inventiveness of Gaston that perspires in the comic is indeed found in the movie (through Gaston's invention but also through the use of failed manufactured products, Gaston is too much reduced to that aspect and to his sleepiness. I guess to make him the action spring makes difficult to convey the comic Gaston.