Paul - Review

Ever felt a little alien?

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are back together and on top form in Paul, a laugh-out-loud geek-fest from Superbad director Greg Mottola.

Graeme (Pegg) and Clive (Frost) are best friends road-tripping through America’s UFO hotspots, from the San Diego Comic-Con to Roswell, New Mexico. Their universe is altered forever when they meet Paul, a rude, crude, and wisecracking alien voiced by Seth Rogan, who has recently escaped from Area 51. Relentlessly pursued by federal agents, red-necks and the Bible-bashing father of Ruth (Kristen Wiig), a young woman they have accidentally kidnapped, the unsuspecting earthlings hatch a fumbling plan to return Paul to the mother ship before the government can steal his brain...and before they lose the deposit on their RV.

After the success of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, Pegg and Frost’s third collaboration was very highly anticipated and, out of the three, this is the film that they seem to have put most of themselves into. In order to prepare for their roles, the real-life best friends embarked on a road-trip across the states, and included many of their experiences in the script. As writers as well as stars, the duo have tenderly crafted their film into a “love letter to Steven Spielberg”, and it is easy to spot the

legendary director’s influence; in fact, the man himself has a cameo appearance. Film nods range from Alien to The X-Files, Star Wars to Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Back to the Future, and of course, E.T. A fireworks box plays the theme from Close Encounters of the Third Kind (“Appropriate”, quips Pegg) and Sigourney Weaver even pops up as ‘The Big Guy’. The vast amount of in-jokes does bring the film close to alienating all but the most die-hard sci-fi fans, but ultimately they do nothing to detract from the enjoyment of more casual movie-goers. Pegg and Frost certainly know their stuff, and it really is refreshing to see actors with such passion and enthusiasm for their work. Those who recognise the references will get a few more laughs, but the film’s sheer likeability makes it accessible to all.

Jason Bateman has fun playing against type as the sinister Agent Zoil, as does Wiig as religious-fundamentalist-turned-ladette Ruth, who loses her religious faith but gains a fantastic potty-mouth. Also worth a mention are Bill Hader and Joe Lo Truglio, who are hilarious as well-meaning but incompetent federal agents.

Paul lacks the charm of Shaun of the Dead and the wit of Hot Fuzz, but it is an entertaining film in its own right. Warm, funny and sweet, but with enough gay jokes, toilet humour and “probing” gags to satisfy the less mature, Paul is sure to keep Pegg and Frost fans happy – though the input of director Edgar Wright is sorely missed.

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