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Paul
| Released |
18 February 2011 |
| Director |
Greg Mottola |
Starring
|
Simon Pegg, Nick Fros, Jason Bateman, Kristen Wiig, Sigourney Weaver, Seth Rogen, Jane Lynch, Blythe Danner, Bill Hader |
| Writer(s) |
Nick Frost, Simon Pegg |
Producer(s)
|
Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Nira Park |
Origin
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Spain, France, United Kingdom, United States |
| Running Time |
103 minutes |
| Genre |
Comedy, sci-fi |
| Rating |
15A |
|
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Alien antics.
With Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz already under their belts, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are fast establishing themselves as the noughties answer to Morecambe and Wise. Loveable and funny, there could not be a more inoffensive celluloid coupling and their obvious affection for each other translates well onscreen. Next up, Paul, and with a new director onboard (Greg Mottola, he of Superbad and Adventureland fame) the bromantic triad is complete.
The premise is simple, if a little off-beat. Two British sci-fi nerds Graeme (Pegg) and Clive (Frost) have taken to the road on a sci-fi pilgrimage in an antiquated RV that trundles placidly along the deserted highways of the American Southwest. However an accidental meeting with Paul-a bona fide alien (voiced by Seth Rogen)-in Nevada's infamous Area 51 kicks off a series of events that takes the hapless twosome on an interstate roadtrip with federal agents and sinister spooks hot on their trail.
While some may sniff at the distinctly slapstick form of comedy, there will be many more unable to stifle a serious case of the giggles as matters unfold in Paul. Pegg and Frost are as buoyant as ever while the pot-smoking, sarcastic little green man is an unexpected and welcome complement to the fold. Sure the plotline is a long way short of realistic but if you check your cynicism at the door there are guffaws and tears aplenty in a script gaily peppered with pop culture references. As matters near their inevitable end however, several minutes of over indulgence very nearly threaten to mar the overall effect of Paul. This minor defect notwithstanding Paul is an unthreatening amiable buddy movie that is pure escapism at its best.
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Louisa McElwee |
