Paul – Review

by FuzzyGeek · Published March 27, 2011 · Updated April 24, 2011

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost tackled the zombie genre with “Shaun of the Dead,” and the action thriller genre with “Hot Fuzz.” Now they’re successfully taking on science fiction (and blockbuster movies in general) with their new film, “Paul.”

“Paul” stars Seth Rogen as the foul-mouthed titular alien, who hitches a ride with Graeme Willy (Pegg) and Clive Gollings (Frost), in hopes of making it back to his home planet. Graeme and Clive are comic book nerds hailing from England, on “holiday” in the United States for Comic-Con and Area 51 sightseeing when they happen upon Paul. Soon the three of them find themselves on a cross-country adventure as they race to outrun FBI agents (led by Jason Batemen), crazed rednecks, and shotgun wielding dads.

Seth Rogen as the Voice of Paul

And that’s pretty much all there is to it. As far as the story goes, it’s simple, and often predictable – but that’s perfect for a movie in which the main purpose is to simultaneously pay homage to and poke fun at a genre. “Paul” is filled with in-jokes, many of which non-geeks might not even get. Line after line is a quote from other blockbusters of the 70’s and 80’s. Many of these lines (which are often seamlessly worked in) are obscure, but they’re not so vague that fans will miss them (you won’t find “may the force be with you,” but you will find “boring conversation anyway,” for example).

As always, Pegg and Frost play off each other well – and seem to have a great time doing it, which makes for a fun movie. The jokes may be sophomoric at times, but they work. Rogen is great as Paul and, despite being on screen as just a 3D effect, he fits right in with his co-stars. Kristen Wiig is wonderful as Graeme’s love interest – a former ultra-religious woman who gives up her beliefs when she meets Paul and spends the rest of the movie trying to curse correctly. Again, it leads to sophomoric jokes, but in the context of the film they make sense.

Pegg and Frost in their element

The CG effects, primarily the alien Paul, are pretty good too. The animated alien may not be perfect, but it works when it’s needed and, even when it doesn’t, Rogen’s deliveries are enough to keep the character alive. It’s good enough that you’re never taken out of the film, and at times it even looks real – mimicking the mannerisms of an alien that’s been stuck on Earth for 40 years.

Pegg and Frost have shown a great understanding of genre films in the past, and “Paul” is no different. “Paul” is a smart film that would have gotten a good rating just because of how flawlessly they fit in so many great quotes of a thirty-something’s geek’s childhood (getting “smile you son of a bitch” in there was one of my personal favorites). “Paul” is more than just that, though. Pegg and Frost deliver a fun and enjoyable movie that will leave even non-geeks smiling at the end.