Sunday, March 27, 2011

Paul

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Plot:  Graeme (Simon Pegg) and Clive (Nick Frost) are UFO enthusiasts, and while they are touring the USA, and they meet an space alien named Paul (computer animated and voiced by Seth Rogen.) They are chased by three federal agents through small towns and farm houses.

Review: Paul starts out strong. Graeme and Clive are at ComicCon with some interesting banter and amusing jokes. Next we meet Paul, who he speaks in an over-written stoner patter, and he takes them on a road trip. 



The movie soars as Graeme gets used to the idea having an alien with them, and Paul does harmless pranks. 


They meet bible-believing fundamentalists Ruth (Kristen Wiig) and Moses (John Carroll Lynch) and this sequence has the best dialog and jokes of the movie as Ruth integrates an alien into her world view. 


Sadly the movie goes down here from there with low rent car chases, simple-minded sit-com setups, and a dull, sleepy ending.  The character of Paul was good initially, but I got tired of him. Paul was ultimately unlikable and I wished he'd hurry up and go away. The end credits were better than the ending scene. 


Cast: Simon Pegg, Steve Forest, Kristen Wiig, Seth Rogan (voice only)

Directed by: Greg Mottola

Rating: 2.0 stars; Early the movie was flirting with three stars, but it nose-dives and overall I wish I had seen something else.

More:  A highlight was all the references to old science-fiction films. I saw lots of them.
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