Simon Peg and Nick Frost, who were seen in Shaun Of The Dead and Hot Fuzz, have returned with Paul. Peg and Frost play a pair of British SF and fantasy geeks (which, reportedly, is not that big a stretch from their real-life interests) who fulfill a lifelong dream by attending Comic Con in San Diego. There, they meet their favorite author, Adam Shadow child (well-played with the right amount of rude snobbery by Jeffery Tambor) and ogle the army of young scantily clad women who parade about the convention in skimpy Princess Leia slave dresses. But their fun isn’t over once the Comic Con is done. The boys rent an RV and travel through the American Southwest, hitting all of the hot UFO spots, like Roswell.
After dodging a pair of surly rednecks--and accidentally slamming into their 4x4 truck in the process--the boys are racing away from a pair of ominous headlights in their rear view mirror that are gaining on them. But before they can panic, it turns out to be a sedan that crashes along the side of the road. When they check for survivors, they find Paul, a classic "gray alien" extraterrestrial. Paul, who’s voiced by Seth Rogen, is just a regular dude who likes to party when he’s not escaping from government agents. Jason Bateman is surprisingly very good as a tough as nails Man in Black who’s hot in pursuit of Paul, and anybody who might help him.
Directed by Greg Mottola, who gave us Adventureland and Superbad (and who also worked with Tambor and Bateman before on Arrested Development), Paul is a funny road trip movie with a smart script that’s filled with a great cast. Glee-it girl Jane Lynch appears in a small part as a waitress, Aliens and Avatar SF goddess Sigourney Weaver plays the villain, and the always great Kristen Wiig plays a deeply religious young woman who gets an eye opening experience (in more ways than one) when she’s abducted by Paul and the boys. Bill Hader and Joe Lo Truglio are also standouts as rookie Men In Black assigned to the case.
After spending some sixty years in captivity by the American government, Paul has become a wry observer of our pop culture (and this explains why he can speak English so well). Rogen is a perfect choice for the voice of Paul, whose easygoing style serves both the character and film very well. This is basically a fun road trip film that makes the most of its Southwest American locations. Written by Peg and Frost, who are major science fiction fan boys in real life, the script also has some great references to SF movies and TV shows, and the casting of the actor who plays the major villain is an inspired idea. Looking for a funny ride? Give Paul a shot.
--SF
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