Directed by:
Greg MottolaCinematography:
Lawrence SherComposer:
David ArnoldCast:
Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Seth Rogen, Kristen Wiig, Jason Bateman, Bill Hader, Jane Lynch, Jeffrey Tambor, Blythe Danner, David Koechner, Jesse Plemons (more)VOD (1)
Plots(1)
Simon Pegg and Nick Frost (Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead) reunite for the comedy adventure Paul as two sci-fi geeks whose pilgrimage takes them to America's UFO heartland. While there, they accidentally meet an alien who brings them on an insane road trip that alters their universe forever. For the past 60 years, an alien named Paul (voiced by Seth Rogen) has been hanging out at a top-secret military base. When he discovers he's been taken prisoner, the space-traveling smart ass decides to escape the compound and hop on the first vehicle out of town-a rented RV containing Earthlings Graeme Willy (Pegg) and Clive Gollings (Frost). Chased by federal agents and the fanatical father of a young woman that they accidentally kidnap, Graeme and Clive hatch a fumbling escape plan to return Paul to his mother ship. And as two nerds struggle to help, one little green man might just take his fellow outcasts from misfits to intergalactic heroes... (official distributor synopsis)
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Reviews (11)
I honestly like the work of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost a lot. It's a slightly different kind of humor that, when done well and tastefully (and that's really true in this case), usually works brilliantly. Another very ill-matched (or well-matched?) pair of protagonists who live in their own worlds, yearn for an alien encounter, and their collisions with the real world usually end in disaster. The cadence of jokes and gags may not be as killer this time around as in, say, Hot Fuzz, but it's richly balanced by the laid-back atmosphere that oozes from the entire film, and I actually liked the slight pathos at the end quite a bit.
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I was really looking forward to seeing Paul and my expectations were fulfilled in the form of a brisk, incredibly funny and at the same time enormously naughty film that manages to perfectly combine elements of comedy and sci-fi with some good references to other films. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are very good and the cameos by Jane Lynch and Sigourney Weaver are a delight. In short, a fresh and funny film that will definitely not be lost among the representatives of its genre.
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Despite the clichés and a hint of sentimentality in the ending, I found myself enjoying the film. Simon Pegg's style gets me every time – flaws and all, the guy can make me laugh. Nick Frost has the same effect on me. Plus, there's something delightful about someone expressing a blind (or semi-blind) faith in a higher power. I could almost hear the sound of fanatical Christians grinding their teeth. Overall, this film managed to lift my mood and I haven't even mentioned the joy of having Kristen Wiig in the mix. / Lesson learned: Choose the location for your final speech very, very carefully.
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Another disappointment after the fourth Pirates (although this time, admittedly, a bit less, as I was not looking forward to Paul all that much). I was struck by how un-British this British comedy was, how few jokes the screenwriters put together, how boringly Mottola directed it all... And most importantly... How unfunny Mr. Pegg and Mr. Frost were. Why did it have to be the two of them who got into this mess? So what if I enjoyed Paul's animation and his pleasant dubbing, the references to Star Wars, Spielberg, Star Trek or Roswell? What was the point of having Sigourney Weaver and the charming Kristen Wiig (So someone give her a proper role already, dammit!)? Why was there all this other stuff when it all seemed so contrived? Not to mention the unnecessary "let it have energy" vulgarisms. In my opinion, Paul is a big missed opportunity, which may also harm the final part of the Cornett "Wright-Pegg-Frost" trilogy. Because I'm afraid that when it comes to theaters, people are going to say, "Those two and the aliens again? We don't give a damn." And it will be the fault of Paul's screenwriters, whose failed 2011 sci-fi comedy will be remembered by few by then. Two and a half stars. Fanboys was better.
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Excellent comedy with one alien, which shows that the Pegg/Frost duo can work even without director Edgar Wright's guidance. Additionally, it's a great opportunity for Seth Rogen, who showcases his best acting, that is, his voice. For nerds, it's almost a must-watch, perhaps that's why I liked it so much.
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Gallery (74)
Photo © Universal Pictures (2011)
![Paul - Covers](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w663/files/images/film/photos/166/655/166655530_23e42d.jpg)
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