There is so much right about this film. Simon Pegg / Nick Frost movies are almost always bright, fast paced, hysterically funny and have a lot of social subtext that enriches the whole experience. Just look at 'Shaun of the Dead' (2004) (masterful revitalization of the zombie genre) and 'Hot Fuzz' (2007) (send-up of buddy cop movies). 'Paul' is a very sweet film depicting the friendship of two English, not so young, nerds. They fulfill their dream of going to San Diego for Comicon, surrounded by sci fi fans and meeting their favorite sci fi author. They have even rented an RV with the plan of visiting famous 'alien' locations like Area 51. They are blissfully happy and in the process of actualizing all their goals. Meeting a real alien who is escaping from Area 51 after 60 years of hospitality (or was in captivity?) throws the men in surprising directors. One would rather continue going to historic alien sites than veer from the original plan. The other more fully appreciates the significance of the situation and commits himself to doing anything, anything to help this little green. huge eyed, smart-ass alien to go home.
But there were a few misfires in 'Paul' I found disconcerting. The original Paul and namesake of the alien, a pet dog, is squashed beneath the UFO that brings our ET to Earth in a crash. A dog is killed in the first scene! This certainly confused and shocked the audience. Worse yet, it brought a tone to the film that would resurface from time to time. Death is part of the comedy of the film, and it throws us off. In the other two films I refer to above, murder and mayhem is the basis of the humor and works. In 'Paul,' it seems superfluous and mean spirited.
One other problem is the profanity. It's a one trick pony that is beaten to death and quickly loses its luster. Seems one of the character's being liberated from suffocating, over-zealous Christianity means the unfettered right to curse -- as if fundamentalist Christians envy atheistic foul mouths. one wonders where this character's extensive knowledge of curses came from. A couple of lines of dialogue to make the point would have been sufficient. That one unending theme changed the rating from what could have easily been a G to R. Really not worth the joke to deny so many potential audience members from an otherwise very sweet, funny movie.
Paul's presence also means the debate between knowledgeable people who understand Darwinian evolution and science above grade 3 versus creationists is ended. That argument was also over-labored though it's good to make the distinction clear to those who might still cling to biblical literalism. It would have been preferable to argue the undeniable science of evolution without the necessity of an alien's mere existence to blast this medieval holdout.. Then again, one could argue, who desperately wants to hold onto archaic myths, God the creator could have made aliens on distant planets as well as humans on Earth. But let's forget I said that.
Overall, 'Paul is still a charming and funny movie, finally clarifying where the myths about aliens originated. I was tough without feeling manipulated.
Paul
Director: Greg Mottola
Writers: Nick Frost, Simon Pegg
Cast: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Kristen Wiig, voice of Seth Rogan, Jason Bateman, Jane Lynch, Bill Hader, Joe Lo Truglio, John Carroll Lynch, Blythe Danner, Sigourney Weaver
Time:
Rated: R
Opening March 18 in San Francisco at the 4 Star Theatre, Metreon, AMC Van Ness 14, and Presidio Theatre
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