Paul is probably the most anticipated science fiction comedy of the year . Two route - tripping nerds , played by Shaun of the Dead ’s Simon Pegg and Nick Frost , meet an exotic “ gray ” named Paul , who turns their world upside - down . It ’s our best-loved comedy duo going to Comic Con and travel with an extraterrestrial ! The film has had its premiere in the U.K. , and the first reviews have been trickling out online . How does the film heap up ?
Spoilers ahead …
The overall consensus is that this is a seriously fun movie , in which the jokes come pretty fast and furious . There are a fair number of in - jokes that will only work for die - hard fans , but also plenty of humor that everyone can apprize . The bromance between Pegg and Frost is as great as ever , but the addition of a fundamentalistic Christian woman ( played by Kristin Wiig ) stretch their dynamic a bit . The film does n’t entirely succeed as a fun route - slip comedy or a jaunty scientific discipline fiction adventure clowning , and some of the jabs at Christianity may take a leak off Christian audiences .
Apparently Wiig ’s character reference has a kind of anti - religious awakening , in which she rejects Christianity and learns to swear , and this is most potential the most controversial aspect of an otherwise standard drollery . At one degree , Paul the alien says , “ My creation does n’t necessarily disprove religion : just all Judaeo - Christian denominations . ”
Oh , and plain there ’s a Country - Western covering version of the Cantina Band song from Star Wars . awe-inspiring !
So running down the reviews :
The Hollywood Reporter isamong the most glowing :
With great gags , good deal of clever niggling moments and a winning , almost - human chronicle at the snapper to prove the cock-a-hoop action sequence , the film should please devoted buff of the writing style with its savvy attention to point . But also it should appeal to those who generally can take or the pass on the genre , which it treats with upbeat disrespect . Box - federal agency riches rest in wait , as it is exactly the kind of motion-picture show that fans will want to see more than once .
ghost With Filmlikes the humor in the film , but is reasonably negative about the focal point :
The direction by Greg Mottola is meek and exemplify two things quite clearly : first , Pegg and Frost are walker without the visual flair of Edgar Wright to provide the poke to their note , second , Mottola ’s work in Adventureland and Superbad have been immensely overrated . The two films were average at best , and the best component part were carried by some timbre performing and clever scripting .
Den of Geek alsofeels like the military action is lacking but the jokes are great :
It ’s not in the same conference as Shaun Of The Dead or Hot Fuzz . The picture show references are n’t as precipitously implemented , the character evolution is distinctly shallow , with the emotional wallop of Shaun Of The Dead , in peculiar , being entirely abstracted , and the activeness scene definitely overlook Edgar Wright ’s orange Smartie - muddled kinecticism , and finger a minuscule bit underdone as a result . On a purely laugh - by - laugh footing , however , it ’s easily the equal of the ‘ Blood and Ice Cream ’ films .
Greg Mottola ’s directionalso take in the plastic film some demerits from Hey U Guys :
Whilst the comedy generally deliver the goods in all the ripe places the actuation needed to keep the game engaging is miss and Mottola also show something of impuissance for directing what could have made for much more electrifying legal action succession . There are scenes , for instance , that on paper spirit like car chases but really just consist of small more than aerial shots of masses driving .
And Brendan Connellystrikes similar notes in his followup at Bleeding Cool : Mottola does n’t quite manage to pull off directing such a unlike film than his previous attempt , but the comedy is strong . And Connelly like the grapheme development , and the occasional stab at addressing military issue of religious faith .
FilmShaftreally liked the photographic film ’s heart :
Paul is a well craft balance of yank and britt clowning , that while never quite scaling the heights to Shaun or Fuzz levels , is full of plenty of laughs and circumstances of heart . Pegg and Frost ’s chemistry is as adorable as always and there are also plenty of great cameo : best of all being Sigourney Weaver , who beats everyone up and brings the sign down twice … thing start to plod a small by three quarters of the mode through though , and I was n’t a fan of the illustration of spiritual bicker and bitching either .
MoviesNick Frost
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