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Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Seth Rogen, Jason Bateman, Kristen Wiig ... see more see more... , Bill Hader , Blythe Danner , Sigourney Weaver , John Carroll Lynch , Joe Lo Truglio , Jeffrey Tambor , Jane Lynch , David Koechner , Steven Spielberg , Nelson Ascencio , Brett Michael Jones , Jennifer Granger , Jeremy Owen , Joe Berryman , J. Todd Anderson , Mark Sivertsen , Michael Miller , David House , Diego Deane , Lori Dillen , Syd Masters , Gary Roller , Oliver O'Shea , Lonnie Otha-Mayer , Will Veitch

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost (Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead) reunite for the comedy adventure Paul as two sci-fi geeks whose pilgrimage takes them to America's UFO heartland. While there, they accidentally... read more read more... meet an alien who brings them on an insane road trip that alters their universe forever. For the past 60 years, an alien named Paul (Seth Rogen) has been hanging out at a top-secret military base. For reasons unknown, the space-traveling smart ass decides to escape the compound and hop on the first vehicle out of town -- a rented RV containing Earthlings Graeme Willy (Pegg) and Clive Gollings (Frost). Chased by federal agents and the fanatical father of a young woman that they accidentally kidnap, Graeme and Clive hatch a fumbling escape plan to return Paul to his mother ship. And as two nerds struggle to help, one little green man might just take his fellow outcasts from misfits to intergalactic heroes. Paul is directed by Superbad's Greg Mottola, from a story by Pegg & Frost. Joining the comedy's cast are Jason Bateman, Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, Blythe Danner, Joe Lo Truglio, John Carroll Lynch, David Koechner and Sigourney Weaver. -- (C) Universal

Flixster Users

69% liked it

82,655 ratings

Critics

71% liked it

189 critics

R, 1 hr. 40 min.

Directed by: Greg Mottola

Release Date: March 18, 2011

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DVD Release Date: August 9, 2011

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Flixster Reviews (9,538)

  • FrizzDrop
    May 22, 2012
    FrizzDrop
    A sensational UFO comedy that may be simplistic in purpose but massively entertaining. Paul is a whirlwind romance between Pegg and Frost and Spielberg, invasive and sweet. Though many people have criticized it for its immature humor and lack of Edgar Wright's writing and panache... read more, I genuinely loved this film. It was loving with its references, the humor, I thought was decent, and it featured a phenomenal cast of character actors, improv members, and SNL veterans including Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader. The product of bringing all these people together was beautiful, the wit and candor of each individual character brought out extensively without taking up screen time from anyone else. They all also worked really well together, and the direction was spot on. I especially loved how believable Pegg and Frost were with the imaginary Paul, though they of course had to act while he wasn't there. The principal photography, cinematography, and action scenes of explosions, car chases and intergalactic turmoil, were really well done for a comedy movie. The plot moved along at a quick pace, but didn't leave anything out, and though the dialogue was crude, it was realistic and showed the queer friendship between the two self proclaimed "nerdy" protagonists. It was a slight put off to have this all knowing alien being be voiced and given life by Seth Rogen, not because Rogen isn't funny and perfectly cast, but because the character himself is oddly placed. He is an intergalactic being and yet he curses and makes bodily funtions work in a way that would shame a frat boy? Even with the fact that it's a comedy, that comes as a strange issue. It's nit picking at best, but it does pull you out of the film at times. Still, it was thrilling and quite hilarious at different junctions. I found this to be enlivening entertainment, though I know many others do not share that opinion.
  • fb791220692
    May 15, 2012
    fb791220692
    "Paul" is a lightweight comedy with a pretty basic premise and similarly basic jokes. Its cliched, even for a comedy, a fact that is made more obvious because the outlandish concept could have taken things in all sorts of more creative directions. As for good things, this movie i... read mores full of well-known funny people who do their jobs at being funny. Kristen Wiig completely steals the show, which is both a compliment to her and an insult to Simon Pegg, who is usually the comedic highlight in everything he's in, but is pretty dull here (with an equally boring Nick Frost). Seth Rogen was a shoe-in for the titular role, but he kind of just ... well, acts like Seth Rogen. What we have here are a bunch of talented comic actors, a sprinkle of smart pop culture references, and a big helping of nothing special. A shame, because Greg Mottola had previously cemented himself as an outstanding writer and director, first with "Superbad" and then with "Adventureland", which is one of my all-time favorite movies and is highly recommended over something as middling as "Paul".
  • paulsandberg
    May 3, 2012
    paulsandberg
    Paul has a terrific idea, and while the opportunities for greatness are evident, the writing team that gave us Shaun of The Dead unfortunately missed the mark here; although there are still several laugh out loud moments and enough pop references to just about every sci fi film a... read morend TV show ever written.

    The film starts with a very nice intro, showing us the 1947 event that sparked all of the UFO lore. From there we fast forward to a couple of nerdy Brits, on vacation and taking in a huge comic book convention in San Diego. The pair, both sci fi aficionados, decide to do the UFO pilgrimage - hitting Area 51, the black mail box and then Roswell - with a hilarious side trip to the barren wasteland where the famous Star Trek episode The Arena was filmed.

    While at the AlienInn at area 51 they are accosted by a couple of red-necks, and while making their escape, they back their RV into the rednecks truck (this is funny because when they later meet up with the rednecks, they do it again!). As they are high-tailing it down the road a set of headlights comes up on them fast. The Brits fear it is the rednecks, but relax when they are passed by a Crown Vic (preferred car of the secret service). The Vic then spins out of control and crashes into the sagebrush. When the pair investigate the crash scene they meet up with a brilliant bit of CGI - the prototypical alien - a smart mouthed, wise cracking dude who has evidently escaped after 40 years in Roswell. The pair agree to help Paul get to a rendezvous point so he can be picked up by the mother ship, and therein starts a rather bizarre and often quite funny road trip.

    As they head north, the secret service is hot on their tale, egged on by the voice of a female commander who keeps threatening to "send in the big gun". The big gun is a wonderful surprise at the film's conclusion, but it is with the ss agents, especially the two rookies, that the film makes its real blunder - making the young agents total buffoons. This doesn't add anything remotely funny to the film, which would have been better served with all the footage of them being doofuses lying on the cutting room floor.

    Along the way there are some pretty snarky rips at fundamentalist religion... if you're a fan of Bill Maher then you'll howl with laughter - if you're a "believer", not so much - though I suppose you might think that the tee shirt with Jesus shooting Darwin is awesome... for all the wrong reasons.

    In the end, this is a nice, funny bit of pop culture - but I doubt it will reach cult status as the aforementioned Shaun, or Donny Darko. It's glib and has a certain tone, but the extended chase scenes, especially with the fundamentalist dad determined to keep following the Brits because they "brainwashed" his daughter, are pretty transparent... just a way to set up a joke concerning the Lord and the laying on of hands. As Paul states when dad says "god be with you"... "Yeah, whatever".
  • FiLmCrAzY
    March 23, 2012
    FiLmCrAzY
    Well you go in thnking that this is just going to be a simple nerdy sci-fi flick and thats what you get, however it is surprisingly funny and enjoyable!
    A great cast and an enjoyable movie to keep you entertained!
    Its Not one of my favourtie Pegg and Frosts movie, however bring i... read moren seth rogen and 'anal probe' then its still entertaining and keeps you very much amused!
  • DouglasWCollins
    January 14, 2012
    DouglasWCollins
    Wow, Alien comes to earth and is vulgar and tells bad jokes, tells us there is no God and loves showing his private parts. Why in the world did I watch this. That's right because Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead were so original and funny. I guess they struck out the 3rd time around.
  • sanjurosamurai
    December 31, 2011
    sanjurosamurai
    im shocked by how disappointing this film was for me. i love pegg and frost's team ups, and i have a major geek side, so i was very excited to see this. so much about it failed that watching the film was a bit of a frustrating experience.
  • FilmFanatik
    December 4, 2011
    FilmFanatik
    Greg Mottola's Paul probably won't win any awards for originality, but it's quite a bit of fun. With a cast featuring Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Seth Rogen, Jason Bateman, Sigourney Weaver and Bill Hader, how could you possibly go wrong? It may seem a little cliche'd, and definitely... read more pays plenty of homages to a lot of different science fiction films, but it actually turns out to have a good heart. The first half of the movie is a bit on the slow side, but once it gets going, it never lets up. This is a great late night movie with plenty of laughs.
  • aquateen2
    October 28, 2011
    aquateen2
    Seth Rogen brilliantly brings life to the CGI alien character with plenty of enthusiasm. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost also play their roles very well, bringing light heartedness to the dark, aggresive alien character making this an exciting hysterical film. However, it is not Simon ... read moreand Nick's best work as I fell their was a slight "americanisation! to its plotline despite the mentioning of "tea" in britian.
  • scottgreen96
    October 27, 2011
    scottgreen96
    The realness of the alien! ah what am i getting at, only CGI after all, the comedic two are back, tagging along the perfect voice of Mr. Rogen, it's my favourite Sci-fi because really, I want to be like them, visiting America is merely a dream, put that dream and you've got yours... read moreelf a winner.
  • murphmann93
    October 27, 2011
    murphmann93
    A light hearted comedy that will make you laugh along with it's weirdness. It wasn't as comedic as I thought it would be but I still enjoyed it. Now and again it's nice to see a film based on fantasy as it makes you more imaginative. You can't help getting a little teary at the e... read morend either and as I haven't seen E.T and heard about people crying over aliens, I didn't understand. But, now watching this I understand why. Great actors and a good film.

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Critic Reviews

Rafer Guzman
March 25, 2011
Rafer Guzman, Newsday

Well, that's one joke. Ninety more minutes to go. Full Review

Eric D. Snider
March 21, 2011
Eric D. Snider, Film.com

The film has some laughs. But it also has a million jokes about anal probes, alien genitalia, and people thinking Clive and Graeme are gay. These guys can do better than this. Full Review

David Edelstein
March 21, 2011
David Edelstein, New York Magazine

The CGI alien is very well articulated, and Rogen is a virtuoso at mixing motormouthed rudeness with a hint of tenderness to take off the edge. Full Review

James Berardinelli
March 19, 2011
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

Paul is arguably the best science fiction comedy since Galaxy Quest. Full Review

Peter Rainer
March 18, 2011
Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor

This is not quite enough of a conceit to sustain a full-length movie -- Paul would have made a terrific short film -- but there are incidental pleasures all along the way. Full Review

Linda Holmes
March 18, 2011
Linda Holmes, NPR

A good-hearted, funny movie. Full Review

Liam Lacey
March 18, 2011
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

The results, it must be said, are less hi-larious than sporadically mid-to-low-larious. Full Review

Lisa Kennedy
March 18, 2011
Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post

In the end - as well as the middle and maybe even at the outset - Paul is more often a close encounter of the middling kind. Full Review

Tom Long
March 18, 2011
Tom Long, Detroit News

The results are, again, not-quite-brilliant but funny enough. Full Review

Stephen Whitty
March 18, 2011
Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger

Beam us up, Scotty. There's no intelligent life here. Full Review

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Facts

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    • Agent Zoil: Three tits, that's awesome!
    • Paul: What's new, fatty?
    • Clive Gollings: It's not fat, Paul, it's power. So rude!
    • Agent Zoil: Call me Lorenzo.
    • Clive Gollings: Lorenzo Zoil?
    • Clive Gollings: There's a Alien in the back making bagels and coffee!
    • Graeme Willy: Why you want tea?
    • Paul: It's pretty strong shit, I got it from the military, actually. This is the stuff that killed Dylan.
    • Graeme Willy: Bob Dylan's not dead.
    • Paul: Isn't he?
    • Paul: I'm not gonna eat a DEAD bird, am I?
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