Paul is the newest film by Greg Mottola, written by and starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost and also starring the voice of Seth Rogen, Kristen Wiig, Jason Bateman, Jeffrey Tambor, Jane Lynch, Blythe Danner, Bill Hader and Sigourney Weaver.

Plot:
Clive (Nick Frost) and Graeme (Simon Pegg) are two nerds on a big tour of alien sites in America. Even though both of them are very serious about their alien stuff, neither of them expects to stumble upon an actual alien – much less one with the name Paul (Seth Rogen). But that’s exactly what happens. Paul is running and trying to get home and he quickly enlists both Graeme and the more reluctant Clive to help.

I expected much from Paul, since I absolutely loved Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. I don’t think that Paul is quite up there with these two film, but it is a movie that works very well and is very funny, especially for fans of Science Fiction movies who will be delighted by all the references Pegg and Frost get into the film. But also if you’re not completely brushed up on Science Fiction Movie History, you’ll enjoy it.

The movie is quite silly, but in a very good way. Sometimes it loses its footing a little bit and gets a little too crude for my taste, but it’s never too bad and most of the time, the humor is spot-on. I completely loved that they incorporated their sounds and the soundtrack and made auditive jokes as well – the placement of the cantina song or the Encounters of the Third Kind theme were brilliant moves. People don’t do that often enough.

I also thought that the whole thing with everybody thinking that Clive and Graeme are gay was handled quite well, even though it wasn’t particularly necessary, they at least didn’t descend into homophobia. Which is (sadly) enough of an achievement to warrant a small pat on the back.

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost really are a dream team and obviously quite the nerds, too, which is awesome. Though its Kristen Wiig and especially Jason Bateman who really take the spotlight. And all those cameos were brilliant, too. I mean, Jane Lynch just got even greater. I’m not sure how that was possible, but it happened.

The plot itself is rather classic and nothing to write home about, but since that’s not the point of the film that’s completely forgiveable. You watch Paul because you want to have a good laugh. And the film provides those in abundance.

Summarising: If you’re into SciFi/Alien movies at all, it’s a must-see. If not, it’s still recommended watching.