Paul (2011)
written by Simon Pegg and Nick Frost
directed by Greg Mottola
I should probably like this film more. It stars and is written by Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, the two Brit funnymen behind the Cornetto Trilogy of Shaun of the Dead (2004), Hot Fuzz (2007), and The World’s End (2013). It’s directed by Greg Mottola, who brought the funny/sad in Superbad (2007) and Adventureland (2009). And it has a crass CG extraterrestrial in the title role (voiced by Seth Rogen) who befriends a couple of sci-fi geeks while on the run from the US government. There are countless references to pop culture, including a scene where Steven Spielberg himself consults Paul over what kind of powers E.T. should have. So why does the film fail to leave a more lasting impression? No clue. Perhaps the script tries too hard to go for the sweet instead of focusing on the dry wit Pegg and Frost are known for. Or perhaps it needed the kinetic energy of an Edgar Wright, director of the aforementioned trilogy. As it stands, Paul is quickly forgettable.
Rating: **
Carlos I. Cuevas
Categories: Comedy
A F T E R I M A G E 
I do love this movie and never forget about it. But I have seen the same reaction towards Paul in other people. And apparently, it has nothing to do with the quality of the movie nor the skills of the production. It’s just one of those movies that you need to identify with. I can relate to a lot of things in the movie like being at the San Diego Convention Center in the past, collecting comic books all my life, loving old RV’s and road trips, alien conspiracies, and the classical coming back after a lot of years to keep a promise. It also touches different science vs religious aspects that for me are fascinating. It also has a kind of satiric and sarcastic way of making jokes that not everybody likes or understands. The dark humor and sexual jokes presented in this movie make it spicy and realistic. And I just love Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig and Jane Lynch. For me it’s one of the best, if not the best satirical/sarcastic sci-fi movie I have ever seen.
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