Paul

Welcome to another episode Lights....Camera....Popcorn!

Today's review is Paul. Directed by Greg Mottola. Written by Simon Pegg & Nick Frost.

Review #112

MPAA Rating: R for language including sexual references, and some drug use.

Runtime: 104 min

Cast

Seth Rogen - Paul (voice)

Simon Pegg - Graeme Willy

Nick Frost - Clive Gollings

Kristen Wiig - Ruth Buggs

Jason Bateman - Agent Zoil

Jeffrey Tambor - Adam Shadowchild

Jane Lynch - Pat Stevens

Sigourney Weaver - The Big Guy

Bill Hader - Haggard

Joe Lo Truglio - O'Reilly

John Carroll Lynch - Moses Buggs


The dynamic duo of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost have blessed us with two "homages" of very popular genre films. The first being the zom-com Shaun of The Dead. Then the followed that with a very clever parody of cop action films called Hot Fuzz. If you haven't seen either of these films I DEMAND that you do. You will not be disappointed. They have now graced us with an homage to alien visitor pictures and just like their previous two collaborations they knocked this one out.

Graeme and Clive are a pair of sci fi geeks who decide to tour cross country to all the supposed sites where ET's have landed or visited. Along the way they meet up with Paul. A real ET that crashed on earth decades ago and was considered a friend to the planet. Now he's on the run from his "captors."

This film has the basic blueprint of ET all over it. A friendly being not of this world crashes here and is now trying to get home. But the people that have him don't want that to happen. So said being befriends some humans that help him get home. What makes this so much more is the fact that this ET curses and gets high. Paul is every bit a human in this film and acts like it. In fact you can make the case he's more human than the actual ones. His character doesn't feel foreign. I won't say why it feels that way but it's explained over several funny flashbacks.

The cast is filled with very funny comedic talents. Pegg and Frost are clearly the heavyweights here but Kristen Wiig is always shines with her dry wit. Jason Bateman plays Zoil with this no nonsense tough guy mantra but he keeps it just light enough to giggle when the time is right. The rest of the ensemble does their part nicely and this is what disappointed me about the script.

There was so much talent here that I felt some of the jokes were either too bland or just not there at all. With Pegg and Frost penning the script, I was expecting much more yucks from the likes of Bill Hader, Jeffery Tambor and the rest. Don't get me wrong, it's there but not with the same punch that Shaun of The Dead or Hot Fuzz had. This could have been solved with just one thing.

Edgar Wright.

He was the director of Shaun of The Dead, Hot Fuzz and Scott Pilgrim vs The World. These three films are brilliant examples of comedies of different varieties and styles. This isn't to imply that Greg Mottola screwed the pooch here because he didn't. I'm just saying that Wright has worked with both Pegg and Frost before and he applies a very unique style to his films. There's a kinetic yet easy to follow rhythm and pace when he's behind the lens. Another aspect of Wright's film making that I really enjoy is his editing style. It's hyper fast but not chaotic. He uses very clever in camera transitions from shot to shot and has a magic eye for special effects. I think his blood would have put this film over the top.

Having said that, the film still does it's job and does it very well. Paul's character design and animation is fascinating to watch. I even have to commend Seth Rogen's voice acting here. I am going on record right now by saying that I can't stand Seth Rogen. He irritates me to no end and his voice is just so disgusting that I want to stab my ears with pencils. Whew! That felt good to finally get off my chest. Putting aside my feelings toward him as an actor, he really nailed Paul's character. From his timing and delivery to the right amount of inflection on a key word or phrase that begs you not to laugh.

Overall, Paul is a fun comedy that proves once again that Pegg and Frost know what they're doing.  Especially when it comes to paying their respects to films that they themselves have noted they loved so much as kids. I only wish Edgar Wright could have gotten his hands on this material. It would have been amazing.

On the 5 star scale. Paul gets 3.5 stars with a "Go See It" recommendation.

That's a wrap for today. Up next is Sucker Punch.

Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"

"D"