There’s just something right to me about a Nick Frost – Simon Pegg pairing. And this movie celebrates their inherent dweebitude. Graeme (Pegg) and Clive (Frost) are just a couple of nerds visiting the U.S. for comic con and then an alien-themed road trip, you know, Area 51, Roswell, New Mexico, all those popular conspiracy theorist tourist traps. Only this road trip just happens to bring them a real alien, and his name is Paul (voiced\motion captured by Seth Rogen).
Paul crash-landed here decades ago and has put up amiably with interrogation and testing, but he’s making his escape now that the only thing left is to slice and dice him. Is the government simply going to let him get away? Of course not. Jason Bateman, Bill Hader, and Joe Lo Truglio are all hot on his tail (he doesn’t have a tail). Graeme and Clive have an RV and a religious one-eyed woman named Ruth (Kristen Wiig) and that’s about it: not ideal fleeing-the-government provisions, but it’ll have to do.
Paul is a love letter to science fiction fans. Pegg and Frost made the film’s pilgrimage in real life, and based the script on some of their odd encounters. The idea first came to them on a rainy night on the set of Shaun of the Dead, where they quickly sketched the character. Cameos and references to pop (science) fiction abound – how many can you spot? Paul is a real tribute to the genre but also just genuinely funny, even for those of us without an intrinsic love of extraterrestrials. This isn’t an excellent movie, but it’s a good enough movie, and frankly, it’s funnier than anything presently in theatres.
I’m going to watch this again. Thanks for the review!
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I love this movie! We’ve seen it three times. Maybe I’ll have to make it four.
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A lot of good reviews here. Have to check it out!
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I loved it. 🙂
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OK I’m sold!
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I remember hearing about this. Haven’t seen it. I think someone I know recommended it to me as well. Although, an alien with my father’s name… That gives me pause.
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I liked this one far better than I thought I would. It just sounds like it’s going to be terrible, but it’s pretty solid.
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It works. It’s not non-stop laughs but it’s fun.
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I still haven’t seen this! Can you believe that? I really should rectify that…
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You probably should, yes.
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Ohhhh after reading your review and the positive comments from readers I totally want to see it!
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Seriously love this movie.
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Love this film, always try and catch it when it’s on tv. Also nice to have a bluray on the shelf with my name on it 😁
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I just watched it on Amazon Prime, but it’s on my DVD shelf too.
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I’ve been avoiding this one for forever, but you make it sound intriguing. I might have to give it a shot.
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I loved it too! 😉 It had exactly the same spirit of other Frost/Pegg movies.
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I am not a true science fiction an but when I saw that picture I knew the movie and had to read your post! I L-O-V-E Simon Peg.
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