Paul Review

March 20, 2011 by Vinnie Leduc

Landing in our planet’s theaters this weekend is Paul, a not so out-of-this-world comedy from British collaborators Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. Co-starring as nerdy fanboy buddies on their own star trek, they’ve also written the script but given themselves not much to work with, instead saving the best laughs for the eponymous extraterrestrial and the supporting characters.

Seth Rogan would seem like an appropriate casting choice for the CGI slacker alien, but I found his voice to be a mismatch several times throughout Paul. This problem was magnified by facial animation that was slightly off enough times to be a distraction, but eventually Paul the character will win you over with his persona.

While I found Paul the movie to be pedestrian overall and most of the comedy hot-or-miss, I still enjoyed it, mainly due to an all-star comedic cast that includes Bill Hader and Jane Lynch. Kristin Wiig shines as she often does in her roles, but Jason Bateman wastes his, a disappointment because he’s done so well in the past with director Greg Mottola in episodes of Arrested Development (the Bluth is out there!) and can excel in antagonistic parts (The Ex).

It’s a welcome sight to get Pegg and Frost returning to their film roots of expertly spoofing movie genres (Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz), but Paul is most rewarding for sci-fi fanatics. Paul gets 2 out of 5 stars (Okay).

Pegg and Frost Return to Their Film Roots

March 20, 2011 by Vinnie Leduc