3/19/11

Paul

Did you like "Shaun of the Dead" or "Hot Fuzz?" If so, you'll probably like "Paul."I would caution you though, this one has been Americanized, and a more vulgar script would be hard to find.

Two British geeks make a pilgrimage to Comic-con, a convocation of Sci-Fi die-hards who revere special artists. A real alien has escaped custody and desperately needs to reconnoiter with the mother ship. He ends up traveling with our geeks.
  • Simon Pegg ("Star Trek") is the perfect tourist: he's excited to be here and wants to visit all the notorious Sci Fi hot spots in this country. It's fun when he points them out on a map.
  • Nick Frost ("Pirate Radio") is his sidekick, equally enthusiastic about this road trip in an RV.
  • Seth Rogan ("Knocked Up") is Paul. His voice is good, but his dialogue is jarring.
  • Jason Bateman ("The Switch") is the inscrutable and relentless Special Services officer chasing them. Bateman is outstanding, as usual!
  • Kristen Wiig (LOTS of TV) is a pious hostage...until she isn't pious anymore. Then she too is a fugitive...who has caught a serious case of potty mouth.
  • Jane Lynch ("Glee") practically steals the show as a big-haired waitress in a roadside diner.
  • Sigourney Weaver ("Avatar") does steal the show. Wait till you see this great grand-dame of Science Fiction classics hitch up her strapless evening gown and wade back into a knock-down, drag- out cat fight!
There is always a bit of humanity in these Pegg/Frost collaborations and this one is no different. In addition, they have layered in a number of Sci-Fi homages, e.g., Paul requests Reese's Pieces when they stop for snacks and we recognize the Devil's Tower as they approach their goal.

I won't tell you more because I don't want to spoil it for you.