"Paul" Director: Gregg Mattola
Writer(s): Simon Pegg, Nick Frost
Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Kirsten Wiig Jason Bateman and Seth Rogan.
Quote of the Movie: "Three tits...awesome"
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| Paul |
Okay so this is my first review, may it go down in internet history.
Firstly, I have to say I really like Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. I have been a big fan since their Channel 4 comedy series "Spaced" I have always counted on them to deliver smart comedy with blatant and subtle reference to the movies and shows that have inspired them. These references feature in Shaun of the Dead, a homage to George A Romeros Living dead series as well as drawing on other sterotypical zombie films. In addition, Hot Fuzz which I lost count of the references they used such as Point Break, Bad Boys II, horror references to The Wicker Man and, correct me if I'm wrong The Omen. With the help of their long standing friend and director Edgar Wright (Scott Pilgrim Vs the World) they are always able to deliver a story with such flair, honesty, emotion and more importantly comedy. They have never shied away from the fact that they are, for want of a better word, geeks and this has attracted like minded geeks and stoners such as myself.
So is "Paul" any different? well no not really. But this is by no means a bad thing the formula that they have used in their previous endeavours works and works for so many different subjects. As you can imagine like Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead, Paul is a buddy comedy and the knowledge Pegg and Frost have on all things sci-fi helps fill in the gaps to give us a familiar yet unique movie experience. When watching this film look out for references to Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T, Predator Star Wars and, once again correct me if I'm wrong, even Caccoon. I will have to watch this film a second time to find more, as is the way with subtle and clever scripts, I'm sure I have definitely missed a couple.
As you would expect Pegg and Frost play their characters well, I would be concerned if they couldn't as they have been friends for many years. They know how to play of each other and even when the film gets slightly monotonous (slightly) they are able to reel it back in with their mannerisms.
Lets not forget that a film only works if the supporting cast is also right? Seth Rogan voices Paul as...well...Seth Rogan the archetypal lazy stoner man-child which he does so well and what we have come to expect from him, for example, Pineapple Express, Zack and Miri make a Porno and Knocked up. This may sound negative but I liked it. Although his character parades E.T I like the fact that the little Alien offers his friends a spliff, I like it that he puts his bare arse on the window and moonies Peggs Clive and that he wants to teach to god fearing Ruth (Wigg) how to really curse. these part gave me a good laugh and to be honest I think Seth Rogan was a good choice.Kirsten Wiig plays Pegg's (who else) Female love interest as well as can be expected she starts off shy and unassuming protected from the world by her bible bashing red-necked dad until she joins the crew on their escape after finding out Paul's existence. This liberates her from her trappings discovering that the world is not 4000 years old and evolution is a better way of explain life than the all powerful words of Gods Bible. If I'm to be honest Wiig gets the best lines; it must have been fun shouting obscenities like [having] the best titty farting sleep ever", "shit butt city" and my favourite "dick milk" but that's just me.
Jason Bateman Plays the perusing federal agent Zoil very well and I have to admit he maybe the best actor in this film. He reminds me of a average sized human T2000 Terminator. Ok let me explain before you say "what the fuck??" he has a misson and he wants to execute it. Zoil doesn't suffer fools lightly and his calm exterior breaths a dark breath of fresh air to Bateman emotionally troubled every-man characters of the past. I liked Bateman in this film. He needs to play more emotional vacant bad guys he's good at it.Other comic relief comes in the forms of Bill Hader (Superbad, Forgetting Sarah Marshall) and Joe Lo Truglio (Superbad, Pinapple express) who play the dimwitted feds who are also in hot pursuit of Paul. These guys cracked me up especially Lo Truglio who character O'reilly is so dense he was able to steal every scene for me and make me laugh out load. Sigourney Weaver makes a cameo as the voice of the Boss enjoys 10 minutes of screen time at the end. To be honest I believe she was only in the film for reference to "Alien" it was good that she was there but meh.
This is a good movie the script is well writen and is clearly self indulgent but why not. why should people not make films in honour of the films that they have grown up with? Why have Pegg and Frost been criticized because of this Rynn Gibley of the New Statesman? Why is it wrong to have a new look on the way one film is made and change it from a drama to a comedy Paul Bradshaw of the Guardian? I disagree with any statement that says this film doesn't draw laughs.
However, my main problem with the movie is the omission of the talented Edgar Wright. There was clearly something missing with this film which was apparent in Spaced, Shaun of the Dead Hot Fuzz and that is the presence behind the camera of Mr Wright. Gregg Mattola does an okay job but that is the only way I can describe it, okay. I think that everyone who has followed the careers of the three Brits (Pegg, Frost and Wright) would agree that Edgar Wright was the the right man to direct this, Mattola wasn't wrong he was safe. Edgar Wright would have done better.
I would give this film a fair 3 Winkleman's out of 5. Well worth the watch
What do you think? do you agree? do you disagree? I would really like to get your thought. Post your comments and let me know.
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