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Paul (2010)

Director: Greg Mottola

Time Out rating

Average user rating

20 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

Is genre-spoofing from the Simon Pegg/Nick Frost comedy dream team wearing thin? Not just yet, but if it was a cardigan – and let’s face it, this is cosy comedy – the elbows would be going. The pair follow up their smash send-ups ‘Shaun of the Dead’ and ‘Hot Fuzz’ (which starred both and Pegg co-wrote) with an affectionate ribbing of sci-fi and get-the-alien-to-the-mothership movies. There are plenty of giggly gags but also a hint of diminishing returns.

This is a US-UK comedy alliance, with Seth Rogen as the voice of Paul, a CGI alien on the run from the FBI (the CGI and live-action combo works fine) who comes across like a Pixar character who smokes weed and tells jokes about genitals. Director Greg Mottola (‘Superbad’) replaces Edgar Wright, with co-writers Pegg and Frost acting out their usual male-hetero-romance dynamic as nerds who get more than they bargain for when they run into Paul on a tour of UFO hotspots.

The whole thing capers along, rolling in chase movie pastiches: by the end the trio has a Bible thumper, two rednecks and the FBI on their tail. There are plenty of jokes for Brits and liberal Americans, but transported to America some of the idiosyncratic fondness of the earlier films is lost. A couple of gags are weak, too: the pair are continually mistaken for a gay couple, snore. But there is enough sly humour and cracking one-liners (yes, some about anal probes) to make Paul a shrewdly timed alt-Valentine’s Day movie.

Author: Cath Clarke

Time Out London Issue 2112: 10 - 16 February, 2011

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User reviews of this film

DevaDetha said...

Posted on May 25 2012 11:03 good movie

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tomfoster said...

Posted on Dec 11 2011 11:27 an amazing film ceep the comeing simon and nick

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Thomas Noctor said...

Posted on Jun 05 2011 12:56 Very funny to Simon and Nick's collection. Wasn't expecting it to be as funny and I would recommend it to fans of Shaun and Fuzz!

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critique said...

Posted on Mar 02 2011 13:37 Enjoyable comedy/action/road movie, a refreshingly light antidote to the more grave stuff I`ve found myself viewing this year.

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Jerry said...

Posted on Feb 26 2011 19:26 A nice soft spoof combining ET with Close Encounters. Some great one-liners, nice digs at the evangelicals, the alien invader type fanatics -- good use of Sigourney there -- comic car chases with a motor home and good cop bad cop stuff which I assume refers to Men In Black. All in all an enjoyable movie with some very nice touches -- mostly saved for the second half.

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ed said...

Posted on Feb 23 2011 08:06 Was so relieved that this wasn't like Edgar Wright's over gimmicky and unfunny Scott Pilgrim Vs The World.... Although PAUL isn't quite as good as SHAUN & HOT FUZZ. It's still a lot better than I hoped for. Funny jokes, Jo Lo Triglio (who he?) was hilarious as the extra stupid FBI junior... The alien worked well. I can't stand Seth Rogen as a rule but he was best I've "heard" him so far.
Not bad and best comedy of 2011 yet (but it's only feb)... Need another FOUR LION S or IN THE LOOP... but this will tide me over.
As light comedy / popcorn it's a good fit.

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Craigganmore said...

Posted on Feb 22 2011 18:20 More like Run Fatboy Run than Hot Fuzz or Shaun of the Dead. Reasonably funny but too Americanised to make the most of Pegg and Frost. Still, there aren't that many reasonable comedies around so if you fancy a quick flick and you, quite rightly, think farts are funny then give it a shot. Happily there'll be better comedies than this this year.

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amy said...

Posted on Feb 22 2011 16:02 I was dissapointed that the film dragged on a little too much. I think the comedy definatley makes up for that! This film is packed with humour and action. I would recomend this film for those who are just looking for a laugh and have a good sence of humour.

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scrumpyjack said...

Posted on Feb 22 2011 11:27 CORRECTION "Amusing (though I didn't laugh OUT LOUD once)" .... though the (2pm - half full) audience did CONSTANTLY.

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scrumpyjack said...

Posted on Feb 22 2011 11:22 A minor delight. Amusing (though I didn't laugh once) warm and lean (no "toilet break" time here!) It fits the "beer and pizza night out" bill to perfection. 7/10

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Marsellus said...

Posted on Feb 22 2011 11:15 If you liked Hot Fuzz or Shaun of The Dead (or even Spaced) then you'll probably like Paul. It's definitely a step down from the previous two films - but it still has some funny moments. I can't help thinking that it is not as witty as the previous two films because it has far more of an American influence. Basically this is an American comedy with two UK actors - whereas Hot Fuzz and Shaun were British comedy films (i.e. wittier!). Random addition - the SFX used for Paul are really good.

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Emily Slips said...

Posted on Feb 20 2011 12:44 AMazing!

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Marcia said...

Posted on Feb 19 2011 18:26 Worrying comments from "Sanjit bijalli" & "Harry Housemans" - there were no vegetables or vegetable jokes - you've got the wrong film review guys. Paul's okay, but Pegg & Frost have lost their sparkle in this one. Funny in places but not a scratch on their previous movies.

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JayneM said...

Posted on Feb 19 2011 09:33 I thought this film was brilliant, I laughed all the way through!

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Sanjit bijalli said...

Posted on Feb 19 2011 00:00 I loved all the vegatable related jokes in this amazing comedy!! Or is a cucumber a fruit?
PS i also had an urge to cook turpins!! but any tips on what i should cook them in? olive oil? or sunflower like the film showed?

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