Paul (2011)

Two British comic-book geeks traveling across the U.S. encounter an alien outside Area 51.

Director:

Greg Mottola

Writers:

Simon Pegg, Nick Frost

Stars:

Mia Stallard, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost

1 win & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mia Stallard	...	Young Tara
Simon Pegg	...	Graeme Willy
Nick Frost	...	Clive Gollings
Jeremy Owen	...	Sword Vendor
Jeffrey Tambor	...	Adam Shadowchild
David House	...	Security Guard
Jennifer Granger	...	Adam Shadowchild Fan
Nelson Ascencio	...	Jorge
Jane Lynch	...	Pat Stevens
David Koechner	...	Gus
Jesse Plemons	...	Jake
Seth Rogen	...	Paul (voice)
Jason Bateman	...	Agent Zoil
Sigourney Weaver	...	The Big Guy
Bill Hader	...	Haggard

Storyline

Two sci-fi geeks take a pilgrimage to America's UFO heartland. While there, they accidentally meet an alien who brings them on an insane road trip that alters their universe forever. For the past 60 years, an alien named Paul (voiced by Seth Rogen) has been hanging out at a top-secret military base. When he discovers he's been taken prisoner, the space-traveling smart ass decides to escape the compound and hop on the first vehicle out of town - a rented RV containing Earthlings Graeme Willy (Simon Pegg) and Clive Gollings (Nick Frost). Chased by federal agents and the fanatical father of a young woman that they accidentally kidnap, Graeme and Clive hatch a fumbling escape plan to return Paul to his mother ship. And as two nerds struggle to help, one little green man might just take his fellow outcasts from misfits to intergalactic heroes.

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Plot Keywords:

alien | nerd | escape | area 51 | road trip | 

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Taglines:

Who's up for a close encounter?

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language including sexual references, and some drug use

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [jp] Official site [uk]

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English Klingon

Release Date:

18 March 2011 (USA)

Also Known As:

Kosmita Paul

Filming Locations:

Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, Taos, New Mexico, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$13,043,310 (USA) (18 March 2011)

Gross:

$37,371,385 (USA) (13 May 2011)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Relativity Media, Working Title Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min 109 min (extended cut)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Paul says, "Toothbrush? Where we're going we don't need teeth" is an homage to Back to the Future; Doc Brown say, "Roads? Where we're going we don't need roads."

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Goofs

When trying to assault "The Big Guy" Clive breaks his sword. Later when they say farewell to Paul you can see the sword unbroken again on his back but Paul brings Graeme back to life and the aliens are shown healing the soldiers wounded by Zoil. With their powers and technology, fixing a broken sword for a friend would have certainly been child's play.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Young Tara: [referring to her dog] Go on, then, Paul. Don't be long.

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Crazy Credits

There's a scene during the end credits.

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Connections

Referenced in Conan: The Day the Proofradar Quit (2011)

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Soundtracks

"HELLO IT'S ME"
(Todd Rundgren)
Performed by Todd Rundgren
Courtesy of Warner Music U.K. Ltd.

User Reviews

Space-ious humour

I like a movie that can make something familiar feel fresh. Paul is this years Short Circuit, or Starman, or Maybe even Galaxy Quest. It's merger of crude/rude and witty comedy plus a cast where everyone brings their A-game, without going too far makes Paul a good watch.

Let's start with top billing. I'll be among the few to say that I didn't love either Nick Frost or Simon Pegg in the Hot Fuzz/Shawn of the Dead duo. They wrote themselves with too much 'sour' in mind and too much self-mockery. For this script, I think they nailed it. Here they are not simply goofs, they are likable goofs, the parts have been written with a few more 'strait' moments, and honesty to balance the satire.

The two of them are on an RV road trip in the south western states from Comic-Con to Roswell. Once in New Mexico however, they get perhaps a little more than they anticipated when they meet the survivor of a car crash in the middle of the night...a little green man, one who speaks English, has been on Earth since 1947, and is asking for a lift.

Paul is delightfully beyond the reach of reason. It's actually a million light years more absurd than Shawn of the dead and Hot Fuzz, so I felt a little more explanation would've helped. It's not too hard to draw conclusions about how Paul learnt English, but why is he speaking it like a punk? He has some really great lines, but he seems way too human for an Alien. Then again, if he wasn't the movie wouldn't be quite as funny.

As the movie starts to wrap up, it does so with a lot of spectacle (perhaps maybe a bit too much). A few too many guns get pointed bullets get fired for me, but at least the laughs keep coming which is important.

Paul, creaks a little here and there, but it's consistent, bold, and appetizing as a comedy with a buddy movie spirit and a good dose of sci-fi satire.