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Friday, August 27, 2021

PAUL

 
Publicity poster for Paul (© Greg J. Mottola/Relativity Media/Working Title Films/Big Talk Pictures/StudioCanal/Universal Pictures – reproduced here on a strictly non-commercial Fair Use basis for educational/review purposes only)

On 13 July 2021, I watched the sci-fi/comedy movie Paul, which is undoubtedly one of the most hilarious films that I've seen in many a long while.

Directed by Greg J. Mottola, and released by Universal Pictures in 2011, Paul stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost (who also wrote this movie together) as best friends Graeme and Clive, a pair of nerdy alien/UFO fans from England who attend a sci-fi/comic convention in the USA and then set off on a road trip across America (much of this being filmed in the New Mexico desert) to visit as many of the most famous alien/UFO-associated sites as possible (Area 51, Roswell, etc). However, they encounter more than they bargained for when they discover a crashed car with a Grey Alien named Paul (long story!) inside, stunned but unharmed.

Paul informs them that his spacecraft crashed on Earth several decades ago, and until recently he had been held at a secret government facility, sharing his advanced technological knowledge with our planet's scientists (and movie makers!). But when the scientists progressed to desiring the secrets of his advanced physical abilities too (such as healing, and rendering himself invisible when he holds his breath), and deciding that the best way of discovering them was to remove his brain and dissect it, Paul understandably decided that it was time to part company with them, and lost no time in escaping. Unfortunately, however, he now has some very determined MIBs on his metaphorical tail (one especially nasty example being played by Jason Bateman), who are intent on recapturing him – alive or otherwise.

Consequently, albeit against their better judgment, Graeme and Clive, aided and abetted by a kooky, initially alien-disbelieving, subsequently Christian Fundamentalist-lapsing young woman named Ruth Buggs (Kristen Wiig), decide to help Paul find his way to the special site where his mother ship can land and rescue him. But in so doing they experience all manner of hysterical mishaps and mayhem en route. Not least of these are the afore-mentioned posse of tenacious MIBs (led by 'The Big Guy', played by none other than Sigourney Weaver) and Ruth's rifle-toting, most definitely non-lapsed CF father, Moses Buggs (John Carroll Lynch).

Voiced hilariously by Seth Rogen, Paul the alien is a triumph of CGI motion-capture animation, Pegg & Frost are delightful as oddball but loyal pals who always have each other's back, Wiig's transformation from ultra-conservative to uber-liberal in outlook as she experiences life outside her hitherto-cloistered existence for the very first time provides long laughs and touching moments aplenty, and the entire movie is a joyous celebration of friendship, quirkiness, and nerd power – plus a sprinkling of twisted humour from the cutting, broken-glass department (one word – 'starling'…). Great fun (unless you're a starling!).

Incidentally, because Pegg & Frost planned Paul as a homage to the classic Steven Spielberg movies Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, it contains a number of subtle references to various of his movies (see how many you can spot) as well as a voice cameo from the great man himself (ditto).

If you'd like to experience a taster of the feel-good, zany experience that Paul provides in ample quantity throughout, be sure to click here to watch an official trailer on YouTube.

To view a complete chronological listing of all of my Shuker In MovieLand blog's other film reviews and articles (each one instantly accessible via a direct clickable link), please click HERE, and please click HERE to view a complete fully-clickable alphabetical listing of them.

 

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