Rating:  

Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Seth Rogen, Kristen Wiig, Jason Bateman, Bill Hader, Joe Lo Truglio, Sigourney Weaver, Jesse Plemons, Jeffrey Tambor, Jane Lynch, John Carroll Lynch, David Koechner, Blythe Danner.
___________________________

Director: Greg Mottola
Rating: R (reviewed on DVD as Unrated)
Running Time: 109 Mins. (Unrated)
Release Date: March 18, 2011
Home Video Release Date: August 9, 2011
Box Office: $37.4 Million
___________________________

Relativity Media, Working Title Films, Big Talk Productions, and Universal Pictures.

Written by: Nick Frost and Simon Pegg.

The latest film from the British comedic duo of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, “Paul” is the whimsical and always entertaining skewering of science-fiction that you would expect from the creators of “Shaun Of The Dead” and “Hot Fuzz”. While easily the third best of the parodies written by, and starring Pegg and Frost, “Paul” is worth the time…although pure science-fiction fans may need a bit of a thick skin to handle some of the barbs.

Pegg and Frost play Graeme and Colin, respectfully, two Sci-Fi nuts from the United Kingdom who have just fulfilled one of their bucket list items – Attending San Diego Comic-Con. With their rented RV, Graeme and Colin also have planned to visit all of the extraterrestrial hotbeds in America including, of course, Area 51. After photo-ops and discussions ensue at the Black Mailbox, Graeme and Colin witness a horrific single-car accident and much to their dismay…a little green alien is the driver, alive, and trying to escape from the fabled alien observatory. Named Paul (voiced by Seth Rogen), the alien is crass, quick-witted, and quite smart and is desperate to have Graeme and Colin hide him away from other humans until he can safely find a way back home.

Kristen Wiig shines in a supporting turn as Ruth Buggs, the manager of her family’s RV park and devout Christian fundamentalist who encounters Paul and has her entire world and way of thinking challenged and rearranged. Wiig is, no surprise, the best thing about “Paul”, although cameos from fellow Saturday Night Live cast member Bill Hader, Joe Lo Truglio, and Jason Bateman work fine as well.

Never side-splitting hilarious but also maintaining a constant whimsical and sardonic wit about itself, “Paul” wants to have a laugh and Pegg and Frost succeed yet again in skewering the cliches and reference points common in a tried and true formulaic film genre. First it was the zombie picture, then the action/buddy/cop genre, and now science-fiction.

Some of the jokes may strike sci-fi geeks a bit close to home, as well as religious fundamentalists, but even with its healthy earning of an R-rating, “Paul” is an altogether harmless and self-aware picture that carries a winning dry wit and sensibility.

Should I See It?

If you have enjoyed “Hot Fuzz” and “Shaun of the Dead” previously, “Paul” will completely entertain you.

Kristen Wiig steals the film out from under everyone with a hilarious performance as the evangelical mobile home park manager. If you still have no idea who she is, check this out before “Bridesmaids” arrives on home video.

Most science-fiction fans will relish the nods and winks and jabs in the side that Pegg and Frost deliver with their screenplay.

NO

British humor and like-minded sensibilities do not play well with everyone, so if British humor is not your cup of tea, this may not seem as funny to you.

If you are not a fan of Seth Rogen, his voice and distinctive personality embodies the characterization of “Paul”. If you don’t like him, you probably won’t like Paul and therefore, find this whole thing pointless.

Devout Christians may not appreciate the ribbing. And serious science-fiction fans who might feel victimized for their love of the genre, might not be laughing all that much either.