Gaston Lagaffe

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.

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.

The movie gets a low rating here, but if you grew up reading the Gaston comic books you'll find that they did a decent job bringing the familiar characters to life. Without that background knowledge you probably miss all the little hints and jokes.

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.

This is a fun film and they did a quite decent job where it comes to incorporating the main elements of the comic strip. In essence Gaston is a bone idle idiot (talking about the comic strip here) with the occasional stroke of genius who lives in a world of his own. If they did anything wrong here, it's that they gave the film too much of a plot, made DeMesmaeker evil and tried to give the contracts a reason. Oh, and they could have made Gaston a bit lazier: after all in one of the strips he is awakened at his desk, early in the morning, having slept there all through the night and his enthousiastic reaction is: "Make sure you put it down as overtime".