Gladiators of Rome (Gladiatori di Roma)

Gladiators of Rome (Gladiatori di Roma) a.k.a Not Born to Be Gladiators
Medusa Film, Rainbow S.r.l, Italy, 2013. 

Young Timo is saved from Pompeii before volcanic eruption destroys the city but he loses his mother. He is adopted by Chirone, who owns a gladiator school. Timo becomes a fat slacker and he is not interested in being a gladiator. Timo's childhood's friend and Chirone's daughter Lucilla is returning home to marry Emperor's nephew Cassio. Cassio is also a popular gladiator and Timo's enemy. 

Timo

Chirone

Cassio and the gladiator babies

After seeing Lucilla Timo's friends Mauritius and Ciccius decide to help him to become a real champion. There they need witch's brew from Ciccius' grandmother Circe to make him strong. However Timo fails the doping test and gets kicked out of the gladiator school. Personal trainer & warrior woman Diana begins to train Timo for the half of his future profits. Finally the vigorous training culminates in Battle Royale in Colosseum. Can Timo win Lucilla back before the Colosseum collapses?

Circe

Lucilla

Diana trains Timo

This is a kiddie-friendly version of gladiator games, so no "Spartacus" style bloodletting or dismemberments here. However the style varies from Asterix style comical fights to stylized violence of superhero movies. Also it takes some shortcuts to avoid some ethical and tragical questions, after all the Roman gladiators fought to the death for the enjoyment of the audiences. Historical accuracy aside, the style is kept light and goofy. There are ever present cutesy animals and even a bunch of naughty gladiator babies! Some visual gags work and some do not. Plenty of contemporary references are included although less could have been better. One of the craziest pop culture references is the dude with Darth Vader's mask.

The gladiators

Ciccius, Mauritius and Timo in arena

The screenplay was written by Iginio Straffi (best known for "Winx Club") and and American Michael J. Wilson (known for "Ice Age" and "Shark Tale.") Technically it looks fine with nice looking characters and sceneries although it lacks the finesses of high-budget American productions. Except for the setting it is can not be said to be very original compared to the present animated movies, story is routine and traditional "guy must train hard to become a hero without resulting to cheating."  As entertainment it has enough fun and wacky characters to make it fun.

Audience

Grubbo the rabbit

The Scandinavian DVD includes English soundtrack (without subtitles) or Finnish, Danish, Swedish and Norwegian dubbed versions.

Rating:Good

Voice actors: John Scwab. Jo Wyatt, Flaminia Fegarotti, Tim Beckman, Emma Tate, Jonathan Keeble, Glen Wrage, Stuart Milligan, Walter Lewis, Mikey O'Connor, William Hope, Barbara Barnes, Jade Chesney, Jasmine Ireland, Jude Ireland, Naomi Macdonald, Mikey O'Connor, Alexis Nishihata, Emma Tate 
Director: Iginio Straffi