(3/2011) Movie Review: Paul
4 Stars
Review By James R. Holland
This Movie Deserves A Much Better Title
The worst part of this movie is the non-descript title, which gives no clue as to the film’s subject matter. The producers would have garnered a much larger audience with a title that doesn’t sound like a book of the Bible. Since the film pokes a little fun at some literal believers of that particular book, the title is an even worse choice.
This 104-minute, R-Rated action, science fiction, comedy is a very funny flick. It had its audience roaring with laughter. The basic plot involves a Sci-Fi comic writer (Nick Frost as Clive Gollings) and illustrator (Simon Pegg as Graeme Willy) coming from England to a comic convention in California and then deciding to travel back across the United States by RV.
Once they turn on to Nevada Route 375, the “Extraterrestrial Highway” their real adventure begins. Just outside Rachael, near a super secret air force base, after a visit to the “Little A’Le’Inn” (a real place by the way), they witness an automobile crash and stopping to help, they encounter “Paul” an E.T. who has been living at the military base since his flying saucer crashed in Area 51 sixty years ago.
After sixty years of helping his friendly earthling hosts, the E.T. decides he wants to go home. Paul has advised Steven Spielberg about alien behavior during his six-decade stay at the Area 51 Air Base and even allowed his picture to be promoted as what aliens would look like. Anyway, Paul eventually discovers he is a prisoner instead of a guest so he calls home and escapes the base. That’s when his poor driving skills result in a car crash. He was no better driving a automobile than he was a flying saucer.
The movie is made up of what happens during his escape to his rendezvous with his fellow aliens. Kristen Wiig does a good job playing Ruth Buggs, a Trailer Park operator and Christian Fundamentalist who is kidnapped by the fleeing trio and Paul after she accidentally sees Paul. Her dominating father Moses Buggs is played well by John Carroll Lynch. Seth Rogen does a terrific job as the voice of Paul.
Federal Agent Zoil is played by Jason Bateman. Sigourney Weaver turns out to be the agent’s boss the “Big Guy.” Nelson Ascencio is another of the pursuing federal agents. Bill Hader playing agent Haggard adds his usual “Saturday Night Live” funny faces and slapstick comedy to the story.
The entire cast and supporting cast are excellent. In the credits, Steven Spielberg is listed as playing himself, but it must have been a very short cameo because this reviewer doesn’t recall seeing him in the actual movie, although there are certainly many references to his films recreated in this motion picture. Scenes from “E.T” and “Close Encounters of a Third Kind” are everywhere and one of Paul’s favorite snacks is Reese’s Pieces.
Blythe Danner plays Tara Walton, who as a child saved Paul from his crashed space ship. Jeffrey Tambor plays a very grumpy Adam Shadowchild. His short screen appearances are a blast.
James R. Holland is a film editor, producer, and author–most recently of Adventure Photographer (A Bit of Boston Books/ 2009). He reviews movies exclusively for Basil & Spice. Visit James R. Holland’s Writer’s Page.
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