Paul

Another disappointment after the fourth Pirates (although this time, admittedly, a bit less, as I was not looking forward to Paul all that much). I was struck by how un-British this British comedy was, how few jokes the screenwriters put together, how boringly Mottola directed it all... And most importantly... How unfunny Mr. Pegg and Mr. Frost were. Why did it have to be the two of them who got into this mess? So what if I enjoyed Paul's animation and his pleasant dubbing, the references to Star Wars, Spielberg, Star Trek or Roswell? What was the point of having Sigourney Weaver and the charming Kristen Wiig (So someone give her a proper role already, dammit!)? Why was there all this other stuff when it all seemed so contrived? Not to mention the unnecessary "let it have energy" vulgarisms. In my opinion, Paul is a big missed opportunity, which may also harm the final part of the Cornett "Wright-Pegg-Frost" trilogy. Because I'm afraid that when it comes to theaters, people are going to say, "Those two and the aliens again? We don't give a damn." And it will be the fault of Paul's screenwriters, whose failed 2011 sci-fi comedy will be remembered by few by then. Two and a half stars. Fanboys was better. (06/12/2011)

Despite the clichés and a hint of sentimentality in the ending, I found myself enjoying the film. Simon Pegg's style gets me every time – flaws and all, the guy can make me laugh. Nick Frost has the same effect on me. Plus, there's something delightful about someone expressing a blind (or semi-blind) faith in a higher power. I could almost hear the sound of fanatical Christians grinding their teeth. Overall, this film managed to lift my mood and I haven't even mentioned the joy of having Kristen Wiig in the mix. / Lesson learned: Choose the location for your final speech very, very carefully. (07/09/2022)

Excellent comedy with one alien, which shows that the Pegg/Frost duo can work even without director Edgar Wright's guidance. Additionally, it's a great opportunity for Seth Rogen, who showcases his best acting, that is, his voice. For nerds, it's almost a must-watch, perhaps that's why I liked it so much. (03/27/2014)

Relaxing entertainment with the nicest alien this year. Paul, with a perfect voice-over by Seth Rogen, excellently complements the good old Simon Pegg and Nick Frost duo. The movie is packed with references to every movie possible (Spielberg’s voice cameo is faultless) from Star Wars to Spiderman and back again. An excellent atmosphere, full of effing and blinding in the unrated version, is maintained throughout the movie and, during the ending, when things end up exactly the way you expected, you sigh with emotion, these movies simply have a heart. - Paul? - Yeah. It’s a nickname, it stuck. My ship landed... on a dog. That’s OK. (06/09/2011)

Unfortunately, I was expecting something a little different from Paul than the end result. I like the films with Pegg and Frost mainly because of their dry English humour, which was totally missing here. I think that if the third of the famous trio, Edgar Wright, had been put in charge of directing, the potential of the film would have been much better used. In fact, in the film, this duo only play second fiddle, because if anyone is pulling it off, it's the stoned alien Paul himself. His digital rendering and all his grimaces are absolutely flawless. The humour itself was not so accomplished, although there were some hints parodying well-known science fiction, but most of it was classically American humour. This is one of the reasons why the British actors did not have a chance to make a significant impact. Setting aside my expectations, I still got an above average comedy, but one that had for a lot more than that. (04/12/2012)