Title: Paul

Stars: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Seth Rogen

Let it be known that this reviewer is an overall fan of Simon Pegg’s scripts (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Run Fatboy Run) written these last seven years. So when he penned the 104 minute stoner-alien feature that is “Paul,” perhaps he could work in the comedic magic he did with zombies, using an extraterrestrial backdrop. As an added bonus – depending how you define humor – he tapped Superbad director Greg Mottola to navigate the geeky road trip adventure. Which amounts to E.T. on some decent swag. That’s marijuana for the straight-edged folk.

Graeme (Simon Pegg) and his comic book mate Clive (Nick Frost) are on the ultimate geek journey. They traveled all the way from England to kick-off this nerd odyssey in San Diego at the world famous Comic-Con. Also known as a fan boys wet dream. As they indulge in their realm of bliss, they get revved up for the second part of the trip. Stopping at all the famous UFO hot spots. From the black mailbox to Roswell, the two rented a Winnebago and couldn’t be more joyous. That is until their ultimate geek-a-thon gets enhanced like no other. Enter in the 4 ft. tall prototypical alien life-form in Paul (voiced by Seth Rogen).

The boys are more frightened by the nonchalant little wise-ass rather than excited. Paul tries to put their fragile minds at ease, and eventually the duo calms down and allow Paul to hitch a ride. He urges them to keep driving north, for he needs finally get off this planet. What the boys realize is that Paul is being chased by the usual black-suit outfitted government agency nobody has ever heard of. Led by Agent Zoil (Jason Bateman), he and two rookies (Bill Hader & Joe Lo Truglio) are under orders from “The Big Guy” (a nice cameo from someone with alien experience), to destroy the likeable Paul. While Paul, Graeme and Clive miraculously stay far enough ahead of Zoil and company, the long stretches of southwestern roads are full of obstacles with other people trying to hunt them down for unrelated reasons.

While the audience is watching, they may start to relate other spoof-like flicks to this piece. There’s a little bit of an “Evolution” tone (ironically starring X-Files David Duchovny) spliced with a stoner-comedy style of a “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back;” minus the skits and over-the-top shenanigans the latter brought. Although Paul is about an alien hanging with two simpletons, it has some spirit at certain turns. For the most part however, the flick is very laid back. And that is why the story ushers in Kristen Wiig – who Pegg’s character becomes infatuated with – to inject a much-needed dose of liveliness. Pegg, Frost and Rogen’s voice can only entertain so much. That, and the comedy between these three is too juvenile and redundant. Half of it works, half of it is dead on arrival.

So with Wiig playing the Jesus loving sheltered girl, whose world is turned upside-down when Paul reveals a few truths about the universe – one of the more fun sequences by the way – Wiig is able to let it all out. Her role is essentially just blurting out obscenities like a tourettes patient. She figures that she might as well drop the good girl act and start sinning. Problem is – and as already mentioned – the character was so sheltered, therefore, she has no idea how and when to let loose. Continuity wise, this is admirable. Entertainment wise, they missed an opportunity here.

And that seems to be how this story flows. A portion of it works, but with Pegg and Frost having shown great chemistry and genius when mildly spoofing a product in the past, this should have done more. In the end, this is not a bad effort, but definitely their worst when comparing it with their past products.

Overall, “Paul” is the equivalent of an acquantnence one may hang with in social settings. They’re cool to yap with for a bit, but one really will refrain in expanding the relationship. In other words, audiences will be glad they met Paul, but there are slightly more interesting people you would like to spend time with. The little green guy is worth inviting out every now and then though. With all that said, this is a must for stoner-comedy lovers.

Technical: B

Overall: C

By Joe Belcastro