Paul (2011)

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

Director:

Greg Mottola

Writers:

Simon Pegg, Nick Frost

Stars:

Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Seth Rogen

2 wins & 9 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
Bobby Lee	...	Valet
Jane Lynch	...	Pat Stevens
David Koechner	...	Gus
Jesse Plemons	...	Jake
Seth Rogen	...	Paul (voice)
Jason Bateman	...	Agent Zoil
Sigourney Weaver	...	The Big Guy

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.

---

Plot Keywords:

alien | road trip | alien contact | nerd | geek | 

---

Taglines:

Ever felt a little alien? (UK poster)

---

Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Sci-Fi

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan] Official site [UK]

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English Klingon

Release Date:

18 March 2011 (USA)

Also Known As:

Change the Channel!

Filming Locations:

Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, Taos, New Mexico, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$13,043,310, 20 March 2011

Gross USA:

$37,412,945

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$97,984,015

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Relativity Media, Working Title Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min 109 min (Unrated)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS SDDS

Color:

Color Black and White (archive footage)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Bill Hader was originally cast as Paul, but the producers decided against it and cast Seth Rogen instead, because they realized that Rogen is the physical antithesis of Paul.

---

Goofs

The normal eye of Kristen Wiig (Ruth Buggs) can be seen behind Ruth's blacked out glasses when Graeme and Ruth are arguing. Ruth's eye is meant to be deformed.

---

Quotes

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

---

Crazy Credits

Right before the scrolling end credits, we see an image of the cover of Clive and Graeme's Graphic Novel "Paul", which has an illustration of Paul -- except he has three breasts, which is clearly a reference to the woman with three breasts on the cover of their other book seen throughout the movie.

---

Connections

References Duel (1971)

---

Soundtracks

Just the Two of Us
(Ralph MacDonald, William Salter, Bill Withers)
Performed by Grover Washington Jr. with Bill Withers
Courtesy of Warner Music UK Ltd. and Sony Music Entertainment Inc.

User Reviews

Sci Fi spoof of the year

I loved this movie. Have been a fan of Pegg and Frost since Shaun of the Dead and enjoy their genius ability to spoof a genre and still make a thoroughly entertaining and funny movie

This time it's ET, Close Encounters .. , Alien and others that are lined up and blown out of the water, along with Roswell the FBI and comic book and gaming nerds. but all done with impeccably good British taste and style.

Seth Rogan (and I'm not usually a fan of his) is superb as the voice of the Alien Paul of the title, and a cameo from Sigourney Weaver complete a superb cast who all acquit themselves well.

The story is set around two British nerds doing a UFO themed tour of the US which starts at a Comic-Con convention. As they take to the road they encounter Paul who is being pursued by 'agents'. The chase heats up and other kooky characters join in and become part of the ensuing mayhem. I'll say no more... go see.

My only complaint is the overuse of bad language expletives far too often, and although effective on a few occasions are, largely unnecessary. and detract from an otherwise excellent script.