Paul

I think that Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are two fantastic comedy actors, and I absolutely loved Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. There was a lot of anticipation around Paul regarding whether it would live up to the previous two films, despite not being part of the ‘Ice Cream and Blood’ series. While it is nowhere near as good as the other two films, it is still a very enjoyable, and very funny film in its own right.

We are introduced to Graham and Clive, two men who are on holiday to America in order to go to Comic-Con and visit some of the famous ‘alien mystery’ sights. However during their journey they encounter a real-life alien who is unlike anything that they’d expect. The whole film is peppers with popular science fiction references and is sure to provide you with a fair few laughs. After they encounter the alien, Paul, they become caught up in an attempt to escape from ‘The Big Guy’ and return Paul home before he is re-captured.

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost have such an engaging on screen chemistry that when they are together they are superb. Their off-screen friendship transfers easily on screen and as a result (and as with many of the films they both star in), the two characters are easily believable as best friends. When you add a rude, humanised alien into the mix you have a scenario which is laugh-out-loud funny. Seth Rogen voices Paul very well, but the real credit has to go to whoever thought up the character. People assume that beings from another world will be all X-Files or Doctor Who, just because of the influence of the television and cinema industry, and so to create a character who himself influenced the depiction of aliens (in the film, obviously) and is opinionated, smokes and makes friends with humans makes this film feel rather fresh.

Now it would be quite easy to get offended at Paul I think. There are some strong opinions expressed about religion and evolution, and there is one character who is strongly religious until Paul shows her all his knowledge and heals her eye. Obviously, someone wrote in the anti-religious aspects to Paul’s character, but rather than the attitudes expressed intending to offend or represent a strong stance, I think they were more likely to be an aspect of Paul’s character which allowed the writers to play off against the pro-religion stance of Kirsten Wiig’s character. Rather than getting offended by these scenes, it is a lot more entertaining if you laugh at the conflict of attitudes.

As with most comedy films, there are a few familiar faces to identify, and Paul is mp exception. Jason Bateman appears as Agent Zoil, who is chasing Paul for most of the film, and does really well with the complexities of his character. I especially liked the scene where he shoots the radio and says ‘Boring conversation anyway’ in a direct reference to Han Solo in Star Wars Episode IV. Signourney Weaver puts in an appearance as ‘The Big Guy’ and is the main character chasing Paul throughout the film. Jane Lynch (from Glee) appears as the waitress at the sci-fi cafe, and is an amusing supporting character. David Koechner (from Anchorman, amongst other things) appears as an aggressive southerner who takes an amusing dislike to Graham and Clive. Finally, Blythe Danner appears as the grown up version of the little girl whose dog Paul landed on when he first arrived on earth. I especially like her character because she appears to have been driven slightly mad by the mystery of Paul, but she is rewarded at the end of the film and this is fairly touching for a comedy film.

Paul is a very funny film and has a few moments that will make you laugh aloud. There is no real ‘down point’ to the film, and there is always something going on. Even the parts that aren’t explicitly funny are very entertaining and this makes it a very enjoyable film. I find that it’s a good one to put on with a couple of friends and have a good time with.