Film: Paul
Director: Greg Mottola
Written By: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Run Time: 1 hour 41 minutes
Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Kristen Wigg, Jason Bateman, Seth Rogan
Paul is a sci-fi comedy written by and starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost as two friends on a tour of the US when they stumble across a smoking, drug taking, swearing, lewd and rude alien voiced by Seth Rogan. He's attempting to get back to his home world whilst being chased by an FBI agent played by Jason Bateman whose superior is Sigourney Weaver. Along the way they run into a mad, one eyed Christian played by Kristin Wigg who joins the trio and send up almost every single sci-fi cliché and popular sci-fi film in the book.
On paper then, Paul should be perfect. A comedy on the level of Shaun Of The Dead or Hot Fuzz (the previous two films that the pair starred in which were also co-written and directed by Edgar Wright, who is MIA for this one). In practice, there is good and bad news. The bad news is that it is most certainly no Shaun Of The Dead or Hot Fuzz. There are far too many issues with the film for it to be as good as those. But the good news is that Paul is a very funny comedy, possibly the funniest I've watched since Scott Pilgrim (although, please note, this is nowhere near as funny as that masterwork).
Down on the acting front, it's mostly great. Pegg and Frost are basically playing the same lovable nerdy best friends that they always do, but they are still great in those roles and it does frequently look like they're having lots of fun. Kristen Wigg continues to prove why she is the fastest rising star in comedy as, after her absolutely brilliant role in the underrated MacGruber, she displays impeccable comic timing and gets quite a lot of the best lines. Whilst Seth Rogan is superb as Paul, bringing a nice sarcastic edge to the alien that reminded me why I liked him so much in Knocked Up.
It's not all great news when it comes to the stars, though. There's nothing wrong with the actual acting, everybody gives it their all and everybody gets at least a funny line, it's instead some of the casting. There is some colossal wastage of talent going on in this movie. Prime example: Jason Bateman. The man, if any of you have seen Arrested Development can attest to, is absolutely freakin' hilarious. Unfortunately, his role is that of a tough, no-nonsense Jack Bauer-type FBI agent and he is very rarely given a chance to be funny, with the film expecting you to buy him as a tough, no-nonsense Jack Bauer-type which I just can?t do.
Also wasted: Sigourney Weaver who, whilst funny when she appears, gets bugger all to do. And whilst the cameos from Jane Lynch and Jeffery Tambor are great, that's all they are and it really made me wish those two were in more movies. So whilst everybody is great in Paul, and most are really funny, some very poor (and some inexcusable) wastage of talent is evident here. At least Paul himself looks great with the CGI work doing a fantastic job of making him look convincing and not too out of place in the world of the movie.
But Paul is primarily a comedy, so all of the great performances and CG is for nought if the film isn't the least bit funny. Well I'm happy to report that the film is mostly very funny. It's certainly nowhere near as subtle as the other genre send-ups like Shaun... and Hot Fuzz, with the references mostly being bludgeoned into your face ("Get away from her you *****"? Wonder where I've heard that one before?) and the film frequently going for swearword gags. However, I'd be lying if I told you that I wasn't spending the majority of the run time in hysterics. You see; Paul swings hard a lot so when it misses, it's noticeable. But when it hits, and it does so frequently, it hits it out of the ball park. One particularly funny moment involves a recreation of the famous Gorn fight from Star Trek. Plus, there's some very creative swearing that actually made me laugh loads.
The script does feature a bit of flab, though. The film starts up a debate about Creationism vs. Evolution that it then abandons after about two minutes, and before that treats it about as well as a McDonalds cattle raising farm. It feels really out of place and it's not really that necessary. Also, the romantic sub plot between Pegg and Wigg is really awkward and pointless. Unless that's meant to be the joke, in which case, well played.
So yeah; there's some colossal misuse of stellar actors, some unnecessary plot lines and it's about as subtle as a sledgehammer to the skull, but, dammit, Paul is damn funny! When you stop comparing Paul to Shaun... and Hot Fuzz, it stands much better. It's a very funny movie with great comedic talent turning in great performances with a great script to back them up along with some of the most creative swearing I've heard since In The Loop (yes, that really is a selling point). If you've seen Pegg & Frost's previous comedies, temper your expectations heading in and you'll find it very enjoyable. Otherwise, get yourself down to the cinema and see Paul.
If I was a hack reviewer looking to end on a pun, I'd say that Paul is "a hilarious comedy that's out of this world". But I'm not. So I'm just simply going to recommend you go and see Paul ASAP.
4 out of 5.
Director: Greg Mottola
Written By: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Run Time: 1 hour 41 minutes
Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Kristen Wigg, Jason Bateman, Seth Rogan
Paul is a sci-fi comedy written by and starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost as two friends on a tour of the US when they stumble across a smoking, drug taking, swearing, lewd and rude alien voiced by Seth Rogan. He's attempting to get back to his home world whilst being chased by an FBI agent played by Jason Bateman whose superior is Sigourney Weaver. Along the way they run into a mad, one eyed Christian played by Kristin Wigg who joins the trio and send up almost every single sci-fi cliché and popular sci-fi film in the book.
On paper then, Paul should be perfect. A comedy on the level of Shaun Of The Dead or Hot Fuzz (the previous two films that the pair starred in which were also co-written and directed by Edgar Wright, who is MIA for this one). In practice, there is good and bad news. The bad news is that it is most certainly no Shaun Of The Dead or Hot Fuzz. There are far too many issues with the film for it to be as good as those. But the good news is that Paul is a very funny comedy, possibly the funniest I've watched since Scott Pilgrim (although, please note, this is nowhere near as funny as that masterwork).
Down on the acting front, it's mostly great. Pegg and Frost are basically playing the same lovable nerdy best friends that they always do, but they are still great in those roles and it does frequently look like they're having lots of fun. Kristen Wigg continues to prove why she is the fastest rising star in comedy as, after her absolutely brilliant role in the underrated MacGruber, she displays impeccable comic timing and gets quite a lot of the best lines. Whilst Seth Rogan is superb as Paul, bringing a nice sarcastic edge to the alien that reminded me why I liked him so much in Knocked Up.
It's not all great news when it comes to the stars, though. There's nothing wrong with the actual acting, everybody gives it their all and everybody gets at least a funny line, it's instead some of the casting. There is some colossal wastage of talent going on in this movie. Prime example: Jason Bateman. The man, if any of you have seen Arrested Development can attest to, is absolutely freakin' hilarious. Unfortunately, his role is that of a tough, no-nonsense Jack Bauer-type FBI agent and he is very rarely given a chance to be funny, with the film expecting you to buy him as a tough, no-nonsense Jack Bauer-type which I just can?t do.
Also wasted: Sigourney Weaver who, whilst funny when she appears, gets bugger all to do. And whilst the cameos from Jane Lynch and Jeffery Tambor are great, that's all they are and it really made me wish those two were in more movies. So whilst everybody is great in Paul, and most are really funny, some very poor (and some inexcusable) wastage of talent is evident here. At least Paul himself looks great with the CGI work doing a fantastic job of making him look convincing and not too out of place in the world of the movie.
But Paul is primarily a comedy, so all of the great performances and CG is for nought if the film isn't the least bit funny. Well I'm happy to report that the film is mostly very funny. It's certainly nowhere near as subtle as the other genre send-ups like Shaun... and Hot Fuzz, with the references mostly being bludgeoned into your face ("Get away from her you *****"? Wonder where I've heard that one before?) and the film frequently going for swearword gags. However, I'd be lying if I told you that I wasn't spending the majority of the run time in hysterics. You see; Paul swings hard a lot so when it misses, it's noticeable. But when it hits, and it does so frequently, it hits it out of the ball park. One particularly funny moment involves a recreation of the famous Gorn fight from Star Trek. Plus, there's some very creative swearing that actually made me laugh loads.
The script does feature a bit of flab, though. The film starts up a debate about Creationism vs. Evolution that it then abandons after about two minutes, and before that treats it about as well as a McDonalds cattle raising farm. It feels really out of place and it's not really that necessary. Also, the romantic sub plot between Pegg and Wigg is really awkward and pointless. Unless that's meant to be the joke, in which case, well played.
So yeah; there's some colossal misuse of stellar actors, some unnecessary plot lines and it's about as subtle as a sledgehammer to the skull, but, dammit, Paul is damn funny! When you stop comparing Paul to Shaun... and Hot Fuzz, it stands much better. It's a very funny movie with great comedic talent turning in great performances with a great script to back them up along with some of the most creative swearing I've heard since In The Loop (yes, that really is a selling point). If you've seen Pegg & Frost's previous comedies, temper your expectations heading in and you'll find it very enjoyable. Otherwise, get yourself down to the cinema and see Paul.
If I was a hack reviewer looking to end on a pun, I'd say that Paul is "a hilarious comedy that's out of this world". But I'm not. So I'm just simply going to recommend you go and see Paul ASAP.
4 out of 5.
