Film Review: Simon Pegg, Seth Rogen Have Close Encounter in Fun ‘Paul’

Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 18, 2011 - 8:10am

CHICAGO – When having fun at the movies seems in short supply, the British film duo of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost come along with one of their goofy, comic tributes to our cinematic heritage. After zombies in “Shaun of the Dead” and action heroes in “Hot Fuzz.” Pegg and Frost take on the extra terrestrials in “Paul.”

Rating: 3.5/5.0

Providing the silly, light and R-rated version of the E.T. legend, the cheeky boys take the air out of the warm fuzzy close encounter by making their outer spaceman (called Paul) into a crass, chain-smoking pants dropper. While they’re at it, there are tweaks at the U.S. government, organized religion and comic book conventions. Oh yes, and it’s an RV road trip.

Graeme (Pegg) and Clive (Frost) are British comic book fan boys making their first visit to Comicon in San Diego and the United States in general. After meeting some of their graphic novel heroes, including Adam Shadowchild (Jeffrey Tambor), they take to the road in an RV. They plan to visit all the alien hotspots, especially the mysterious Area 51.

As Graeme and Clive’s road trip rolls along the government-run alien territory, a car accident occurs in front of them. Approaching the wreckage carefully, they are surprised by the presence of Paul (voice of Seth Rogen), an extra terrestrial being that has escaped his government captors. After the initial shock wears off, the British duo become protectors of their new friend, fleeing the federal posse that are looking to recapture the alien. The foul-mouthed Agent Zoil (Jason Bateman) are aided by the bumbling Haggard (Bill Hader) and O’Reilly (Joe Lo Truglio), taking orders from The Big Guy (Sigourney Weaver).

As the chase roars on, Clive, Graeme and Paul also encounter a Christian RV camp, and they have to kidnap the one-eyed proprietor named Ruth (Kristen Wiig). While minds get changed and blown (mostly by Paul), the motley crew has to find a way to get their E.T. back home to the mother ship. This may constitute an encounter of the fourth kind.

“Paul” opens everywhere March 18th. Featuring Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Jeffrey Tambor, Jane Lynch, Seth Rogen, Jason Bateman, Kristen Wiig, Sigourney Weaver and Bill Hader. Screenplay by Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. Directed by Greg Mottola. Rated “R”