PAUL REVIEW

From the makers of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz comes another third pairing of the minds with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost reuniting once again for a Sci-Fi road trip adventure.

The story takes place in the South American regions where two fellow best friend geeks Pegg and Frost journey the desert landscapes after a trip to the San Diego Comic Con. (Oh how I love to be there with my fellow nerds and comic fans. I’ll have to do with the London Event this year. That’s right folks, there’s a Comic Con/Film event taking place in July at Earl’s Court Road in London. Check it out.)

Back to the film, our nerdy would be heroes travel to the locations of where there have presumably been UFO sightings and encounters. It is during a nights ride they witness a car crash where from the remains they meet PAUL (Seth Roger). A skinny green ass big header large eyed ruddy pot smoking smart ass Alien being from another world or galaxy.

After some convincing the two friends agree to help Paul who is trying to escape from undercover Agent Jason Bateman and FBI agents Bill Hader and Joe Lo Truglio who are trying to capture and kill him.

The long and tensioned road trip leads them to spend the night at a RV rest stop where they meet with Religious fanatic and Simon Pegg’s love interest for the rest of the film Kristen Wig and her controlling father John Carroll Lynch (Who I last remember seeing been melted to death by a river of lava in Volcano).

After a night of partying and getting high, during a argument over the existence of God, Paul reveals himself to Kristen who gob smacked faints. Deciding to take her along and thus kidnapping her, the four characters continue their long trip to meet up with Paul’s buddies while been chased by the Agents and now Kristen’s father which transpires into a race against the clock as each tries finding the other while in a funny way all meeting up in one place only for hell to break loose and for the heroes to escape once more.

That is overall pretty much the story. It’s simple and not to hard to follow at all. The mood and atmosphere of the film is full of laughter and comedy. While I did not laugh out loud during most of the film I did smile at its comedy and enjoyed what they said and did. The script is full of swearing and witty sexual remarks but the way its written and said by the actors makes it feel natural and believable. At times I do feel like the film tries taking it self too seriously and it is one of reasons whether I’m not sure to laugh or not.

The action scenes are few but they are delivered in a well and humorous ways with stunts and actions that’ll have you rolling your eyes in disbelief and yet laughing your eyes out. But this isn’t a action by any means. It’s a comedy. A Sci-Fi comedy full of references and nods to the old Sci-Fi flicks and that is one of the many highlights of this film.

Only Sci-Fi nerds and people who’ve watched the old 70 to 80s Sci-Fi films will be able to appreciate  a lot of the humour and jokes that focus around it. References range from Indiana Jones to X-Files and even Aliens. This film is for the Sci-Fi folks. Its been made for people like us who can respect and appreciate that time of era and the amount of references they managed to stick into comical lines is breathtaking.

However, that doesn’t go without saying the film has no flaws. It does. Right now I can say that the Acting is good for what it is. Pegg, Frost, Bateman and Wig give their best for what is overall just a nostalgic  film. Even Rogers who I don’t fully enjoy in films gives out a worthy performance as Paul but at that times I can’t help but feel that it is overall just him we are seeing and not a Alien from another world.

This isn’t ET which most of the film I’d say is heavily inspired by, but like I said the film at times feels like it takes itself to seriously and characters who appear in the film and becoming supporting characters aren’t all that developed at all.

Actress Blythe Danner who appears in the film very late towards the end is hardly given any proper character development and while you are meant to feel some sort of care for her I honestly couldn’t care for someone who just came on board this film.

There’s also the fact that her character is connected to the Paul character and backstory is brought up from when they met. All is explained as to the reasons behind how they had a quick relationship but I am one of those people who prefers to see those actions in flashbacks instead of been told about it. And unlike Shaun of the Dead or Hot Fuzz, Paul does at times feel short. It is a rushed film.

Not saying it was rushed but the film moves at a fast pacing and never holds down to give audiences a time to breath and when it does there isn’t development put into.  However, it doesn’t stop it from been a bad film. It isn’t. But it is no Hot Fuzz or dare I say it, even a Shaun of the Dead. The film does feel kind of a step backwards from what Pegg and Frost have done previously.

However, like mentioned, the film succeeds at providing the laughter. And the CGI efforts for Paul are genially well done. Nothing feels fake and it all looks real. The fact the majority of the film was shot not in a studio but outdoors and in a actual RV gives it that realness to it.

In conclusion I’d advise all those who are Sci-Fi fans and those who have experienced those old Sci-Fi films and enjoy the type of comedy where sex and drug jokes are thrown around with some decent action, then this is your type of film. However, if you’re expecting a serious type of film that’ll make you think with characters who fleshed out properly enough, forget it. This is a thrill ride of jokes from start to finish that does bring with it a message of friendship and love. Nothing more, nothing less. (Funny that, that was pretty much the same themes in the last two films Pegg and Frost did.)

Total Score =  7/10

LIKES:

• Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are awesome as always.
• A certain Cameo towards the end will make Sci-Fi fans clap for a ending well done.
• Seth Roger is actually quiet likeable for a CGI character.
• Action Scenes are good to watch.
• The Jokes and comedy are top-notch.

DISLIKES:

• Some religious people might find the arguments between there been a God or not offensive.
• Too much sex jokes and such might turn some people off.
• Not a lot of character development for some of the cast.