Paul Reviews

Honestly, I was rather disappointed. I mean, the premise was just pure gold. Indeed, two geegs portrayed by Simon Pegg and Nick Frost bump into an alien (voiced by Seth Rogen) who is just a rude SOB who likes to smoke and drink beers. If you read it like this, it all sounded great on paper but, unfortunately, the whole thing was ok but not much more than that I'm afraid. First of all, I didn't care at all about Paul's superpowers. I mean, it was the whole point of this flick : to have an extra-terrestrial being who is neither a psychotich killing machine or a nice and cutty creature who wants to help human-kind but just an average slacker who just wants to have fun and chill around. The second thing that bothered me was that there were too many boring supporting characters. I know, it is the whole point with a road trip, they meet some colorful people and hilarity should follow. Well, it wasn't always the case here. Still, Pegg, Frost and Rogen were all pretty good here so I was still entertained throughout the whole thing but it couldn't have been much better in my opinion. To conclude, in spite of its flaws, I still think it remains a decent comedy and it is worth a look, especially if you like the genre.

Just an absolute geeks joy! Geeksterdam! Geektopia! Geekapalooza! The principles are fantastic (along with the Paul sfx.) A real riot. Now if you're not a geek you should become one before this movie. However, this movie may have the power of transformation! Lots of fun!

I haven't seen 'Hot Fuzz', but I actually preferred this to 'Shaun of the Dead'. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are definitely capable comedians, and the science-fiction/comedy combination actually worked really well. I also liked the character Paul, his mannerisms were certainly something new for an alien, and this was refreshing. However the whole time I was waiting for something a little bit more. 'Paul' was never laugh-out-loud funny, and despite some sweet moments, it just didn't pack enough punches and laughs to be called a 'solid' comedy film.

I've heard from a few people that the cast was awesome but the script sucked and it's hard for me to disagree with this. I wanted to love this movie but some of the alien jokes were so old and all the non-sense swearing got tiresome real quick. This is the worst of the Pegg/ Frost movies for sure.

Coming into to this movie, I had doubts and I had some hope. With an all star cast, you always hope that the movie ends up being at least good. Paul starts out slow, and has some big LOL moments along the way, while keeping you caught up in the story. The laughs were there, and came at unexpected times. Jason Bateman rocked the whole movie in this, just a great talent. Everyone had a funny moment, and the writing was really well done. A very entertaining movie

With this cast, this director (Greg Mottola from Adventureland and Superbad)and an interesting concept this should have been, at the very least, a great comedy. Sadly, it disappoints. It's only funny in small non-sustained stretches and the comedy potential of a rude, pop culture obsessed alien is mostly wasted. Most of his humor is way to obvious pop culture references (how many tie ins can you you have to E.T. and Close Encounters of the Third Kind) and blatantly telegraphed. The core story of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost taking a road trip is the most interesting but it often feels as if the film is vacillating between the raunchy comedy of Superbad and the more straight forward storytelling of Adventureland without ever choosing a consistent approach. One second Paul is dropping f-bombs and showing his ass out the window the next he is a selfless life saver with no real character exploration given to explain his random life changes.

Its odd to say - especially based on the Paul centric advertising - but the human story here is far more interesting than anything Paul brings to the table.

"Hey fucknuts! Probing time."

Following their parodies of zombie flicks (2004's Shaun of the Dead) and action films/buddy cop movies/murder mysteries (2007's Hot Fuzz), the endearing British comedy duo of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost turned to road movies and sci-fi for 2011's Paul. However, while Shaun and Hot Fuzz were British movies directed by Edgar Wright, American director Greg Mottola replaced the boys' usual collaborator to helm this American-produced comedy. Thankfully, though, these aspects do not dilute the boys' comic genius. In less adroit hands, Paul would've simply been a wacky comedy with relentless profanity, toilet humour and drugs. With Pegg and Frost having written the script, though, Paul is both a satisfying comedy and a valentine to the sci-fi genre. It is not a satire of science fiction or a parody, but a good old-fashioned road trip comedy that's endowed with a Spielbergian concept and loaded with movie references, fun absurdity and R-rated tomfoolery...and it just happens to feature an alien.

A couple of geeky English buddies with big dreams but little gumption to achieve them, artist Graeme (Pegg) and writer Clive (Frost) have travelled to America to attend Comic-Con. Afterwards, the boys embark on an RV tour through the American Southwest to visit all the "classic" UFO hotspots, hoping to expose their geek minds to some extraterrestrial history. No sooner have they hit the road that the pair happen upon Paul (voiced by Rogen), an alien who escaped from American captivity after spending years feeding Hollywood and the military all of his secrets and ideas. The American government wants to harvest Paul's brain, though, prompting Paul to escape in the hope of getting back home. After an awkward meeting, Graeme and Clive agree to hit the road with the sociable pot-smoking alien. Meanwhile, the Men in Black are in hot pursuit to recapture Paul, and the trio becomes a foursome when they kidnap a Christian zealot (Wiig) who initially believes Paul to be a demon.

With Paul, it seems that there isn't a well-worn genre or a premise that Simon Pegg and Nick Frost cannot make good through their witty touch. It's clear these guys are enormous, geeky movie fans, since everything they've written has been built on a foundation of cinematic homage and referencing (see the TV show Spaced in particular). These qualities are very obvious in Paul, as lines from science fiction films like Star Wars, Predator and Aliens appear in the script, along with nods to other well-known sci-fi pictures like E.T., Star Trek and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Indeed, Paul is pure geek bait - it practically bleeds green. This is heightened by the fact that the film is bookended by scenes taking place at Comic-Con. Heck, Steven Spielberg even agreed to do a voice cameo. And my word, the Spielberg cameo is a great touch.

Paul's humour is of the distinctly British variety despite its American director and setting, which is suitable considering Pegg and Frost scripted the picture. However, while Paul is often a very funny flick, it is not always on the prowl for belly-laughs - most of the highlights are merely cause for loud chuckles or big grins. Yet, this is not a criticism; rather than ladling on thunderous laughs, Paul has an easygoing joviality that works far better. Paul is a genuinely warm comedy, with affable characters embodying sheer humanity and warmth. What's perhaps most remarkable is that the narrative never grows dull or plodding. Most comedies are positively drab in between the belly-laughs, but not Paul - the energy levels never flag. Deep down it lacks the spark of excellence of Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead (perhaps Edgar Wright's exclusion has something to do with this), but it works well enough on its own merits.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are an awesome comedic twosome here. The pair are as amiable as ever, sharing a breezy repartee and an effortless chemistry highlighting their real-life friendship. Admittedly, Pegg and Frost simply play the same type of roles they're frequently associated with, but at least they're actually good at these roles and have personality. In a nod to Spaced, Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, there's an ongoing joke about how everyone who meets the boys mistakes them for gay lovers, leading to a number of amusing moments.

Fortunately, Pegg and Frost are not the only talented members of the cast - Paul is one of those rare comedies brimming with talent, and each cast member has a moment to shine. Voiced pitch-perfectly by Seth Rogen (he was born to give personality to CG creations), the titular Paul is a digital creation, yet he effortlessly fits in and it's easy to forget his CGI origins thanks to realistic animation and amusing laugh lines. Alongside him, Jason Bateman is as funny and watchable as ever as Agent Zoil, while Bill Hader and Joe Lo Truglio score a tonne of laughs as a bumbling pair of government agents. The cream of the crop, though, is Kristen Wiig as Ruth. She's excellent not just because her character has the most interesting arc, but because she is bloody hilarious; a scene-stealer from start to finish. Meanwhile, Sigourney Weaver also shows her comic instincts in her minor role here, and Blythe Danner is predictably good as the first person Paul met on Earth. Rounding out the cast is John Carroll Lynch playing Ruth's religious nutcase of a father.

In the running for the best comedy of 2011, Paul is a close encounter with the comic brilliance of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost that tickled both my funny bone and my geek bone, and it possesses infinite replay value. While it's not as funny as the duo's previous films, this is a flick with heart and a three-dimensional roster of characters.

8.1/10

Two British nerds decide that after going to ComicCon in San Diego they are going to go touring America’s UFO hotspots. As they drive down the open road in Nevada they are passed by a car and witness a high speed wreck. When they inspect the wreck the run into Paul an alien who has escaped the government and wants to find his way home, the two nerds decide to help him on his journey to get back to his people.

Paul is a hipster, pot smoking, and beer drinking alien voiced by the incomparable Seth Rogen. How is this not a recipe for instant success? You have perhaps the most unique comedic actor of this generation playing one of the most unique characters in a long time. It was an instant success; the humour in Paul is off the charts. This movie is beyond anything you could have imagined. Paul is one awesome character, and the references to other pop culture are all over the place (just need to make sure you catch them, because at times they are not blatantly obvious).

Initially as expected the two nerds played brilliantly by the comedic duo of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are sceptical of Paul, as anyone would be if they just stumbled upon a UFO who is claiming he has been around since the late 40’s. Pegg and Frost are good because it is any fan boys dream to run into an alien and help on a journey, and they made it seem real. The dynamic between Pegg, Frost and Rogen is why comedy can be so impressive at times. They never skipped a beat, they all seemed to be perfectly in synch with one another and it worked. Paul transformed from a nice little flick about an alien to one of the best comedies Rogen has ever done, right up there with Superbad and Pineapple Express.

It was a complete cast however; they had Jason Bateman, Bill Hader and Joe Lo Truglio as FBI agents trying to stop Paul from making his way back home. This film had Kristen Wigg playing a religious girl seeing the world for the first time and enjoying herself. John Carroll Lynch played her crazy father. Other cast members included Jane Lynch, Jeffrey Tambor and a few other notable actors that you must see the film in order to fully enjoy.

For a film with such a simple plot Paul does a fantastic job of leaving you fulfilled and happy. The story is fun, the characters are fun, and the jokes are relevant and even take a spin on the old alien adage that they are green and have big heads. There are a few unbelievably funny pop culture bits, like Paul on the phone with the man himself Steven Spielberg talking about E.T. There is also a bit where Paul says he created the character of Agent Mulder on the X-Files. As mentioned there are many more subtle references to pop culture, some that will be picked up instantly and others that may need further research in order to understand.

Paul most certainly is not a film for everyone, despite the crude humour, at times they delve into the religion vs. evolution idea, which may be offensive to some people viewing the film. For me it was easy to pass off, because it was only a fleeting moment of the film where they discuss it. For some people who are completely religious, I understand how this could be offensive.

I say don’t miss out on the hilarity that is Paul, it is a downright funny and a well written flick. It is the way comedy is supposed to be, insulting, crude, off the wall all the while maintaining an interesting premise so that no one is confused by it

To Read My Review of "Paul" - awesomebarnhart.wordpress.com/2011/04/01/paul-2011/

“The ad campaign for PAUL has wittily informed us that this film was directed by "the earthling who brought you SUPERBAD," Greg Mottola. Of course, sin”