Pegg and Frost score another hit with "Paul"
By James Hill III
As soon as I see a trailer for anything starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, I get excited. The British duo starred in (and Pegg co-wrote) 2004's "Shaun of the Dead," one of my all-time favorite comedies, and "Hot Fuzz," the second film in the "Blood and Ice Cream Trilogy." Their newest effort together, alien action-comedy "Paul" (co-written by Pegg and Frost) isn't the third film in the aforementioned trilogy, but it is nearly as funny.
Paul has a relatively simple premise. Pegg stars as Graeme, a science fiction writer, and Frost stars as Clive, his illustrator, two science fiction nerds who plan a large-scale road trip throughout the western part of the U.S. to attend the San Diego Comic-Con and to visit the hotspots of alien contact: Area 51, Roswell, etc. In an oversized RV, the two set out on their road trip, during which a car flips over on the road in front of them. The driver of the car, who just so happens to be a little green alien, confronts them to ask for their help in making his way north. Graeme promptly faints.
At this point, Paul seems to be a relatively conventional "alien meets humans" movie. However, Pegg and Frost rarely act in or write anything "conventional," and "Paul" is no exception. The alien, who has taken on the name of ‘Paul' in honor of the dog he crash-landed on back in 1947, is a witty, laid back and profane creature. He has apparently been evading the U.S. government for over sixty years, while also providing sci-fi inspiration to the likes of Chris Carter ("The X-Files") and Steven Spielberg (who Pegg and Frost say the film is a "love letter" to).
Even as the film turns into a zany, "Cannonball Run" or "Rat Race"-esque race up the West Coast, Paul adds a hilarious personality to the normal mix while never seeming overdone or forced.
In addition to the always-brilliant Pegg and Frost, Paul's supporting cast is prime fodder for a good laugh. Saturday Night Live stars Kristin Wiig and Bill Hader play a Christian fundamentalist shocked to learn of Paul's existence and an incompetent cop chasing after Paul, respectively. Both are constantly funny, and Jason Bateman makes an excellent FBI agent.
The entire film is littered with cameos by comedians and comedic actors that help Paul build to a very satisfying conclusion. Some of the language and jokes might initially come off as surprising given their sudden and frequent usage, but "Paul" manages to be profane without crossing the line into unnecessary vulgarity.
Smaller, more "out there" concept movies like Paul deserve support more than many other films coming out this season, and I encourage everyone to see this film. Studios take chances on films like this, and when they don't sell (like last year's exquisite but seldom-seen at the box office Scott Pilgrim vs. The World) the studios are less likely to be willing to take such monetary risks in the future, and more likely to bankroll another boring, unimaginative sequel.
Hollywood can do better, but they need proof that people actually want to watch "better." Watching Paul may be the way to accomplish this.
Paul is a unique and very funny, well made film that certainly falls into the "better" category, and I hope enough people see it and send a strong message to the studios that people want to see more interesting, new ideas on the big screen.
Contact James at jhill@scu.edu or at (408) 554-1918.