Paul Review
By Karen Dahlstrom
Lost in Space
Anyone who's seen "
Shaun of the Dead" or "
Hot Fuzz" knows that Simon Pegg and Nick Frost have an encyclopedic knowledge and ardent love of 80s films and pop culture. Both films both glorified and lampooned the zombie and action genres, respectively, while becoming cult hits in their own right. For their latest film, "Paul", the comedic duo take on the vast world of sci-fi flicks and the fanboy culture. But without Edgar Wright (their frequent collaborator and director), it lacks the smart-cool factor that is exactly what fanboys crave.
Pegg and Frost play Graeme and Clive — sci-fi "enthusiasts" from the UK on a pilgrimage to visit the alien landmarks of the American Southwest. The film gets off to a promising start as Graeme and Clive hit Comic-Con like kids in a crack-laced candy store. With several winks and nods to the Comic-Con subculture, the film quickly establishes its geek cred and Graeme and Clive as worthy protagonists on this heroes' journey.
But as the two pile into their shabby, rented Winnebago and embark on their road trip, Graeme and Clive don't realize they'll be leaving some of the best bits in the film behind. As they traverse the rural desert land, they run into your typical backwater rednecks and beehived waitresses who don't cotton to weirdoes with funny accents and long hair. Gay jokes and pee-pee humor pop up unpleasantly between the movie references and quotes that make up much of the banter between the two characters.
It doesn't improve much when they encounter Paul — an alien escapee they (almost literally) run into in the Nevada desert. After being a "guest" of Area 51 since the 40s, Paul is now making a break for it before he can be terminated by the government. An assimilated, wise-cracking pothead in cargo shorts, Paul just wants to go home — but he isn't exactly "E.T." He's essentially Seth Rogen (who provides the voice), only a bit shorter, grayer and with bigger eyes. And so, more pee-pee humor, gay jokes and drug references ensue, with the occasional familiar catch-phrase or sight gag thrown in to remind the audience this is supposed to be a take-off of sci-fi flicks.
Kristin Wiig, as Ruth, a trailer park manager (and romantic interest for Graeme), is the only real bright spot that shakes the dust off this tired routine. Her turn as an Evangelical Christian — whose faith is tested by the appearance of Paul — is an inspired bit of lunacy. Ruth's first awkward attempts at cursing are simply delightful.
The rest of the film, not so delightful. Director Greg Mottola ("
Superbad") knows his way around a comedy, but Pegg and Frost need a director like Edgar Wright who can visually play with the styles and genres to which the writing team is paying homage. Wright's vibrant, comic-book style would have been perfectly matched here, and it's much missed. As it is, "Paul" doesn't have much going for it — other than some residual good will for the film's stars. Too bad, because if anyone could have done sci-fi fanboys a solid, it would have been the ultimate movie fanboys, Pegg and Frost. Guess no one will be dressing up as Paul at Comic-Con next year.
