Paul

8/10 E.M.
5/10 C.E.

  Any movie that starts off with nerds at Comic Con automatically scores points in this critic's heart. Fortunately for the rest of us who aren't so geeky Paul goes on to score more points especially in the laughs department. Granted some of the laughs are given away in the trailers but you would be hard pressed these days to find a movie where this is not the case. Spoilers aside the movie still has plenty of laughs in store especially for those versed in all things geeky as well as alien movies which this movie pays tons of homage to. Although all of these nerd and alien jokes are funny they in reality serve to distract the audience from the fact that the movie itself isn't very original mostly just laughs many stolen from greater works.

  Seth Rogen who of course plays Paul's voice does a great job of somehow being believable and serious and yet also funny at the same time. This is ironic because let's face it when you watch him in person the last thing you can ever believe is that he's serious. Instances come to mind from Green Hornet when he's supposed to be serious in the role but you just can't swallow it. This along with his numerous other roles that are goofy or funny further strengthen the case against him as a person to take earnestly. Both Simon Pegg and Nick Frost do a good job as the nerds Graeme and Clive. As always it seems they come in a package deal both being in previous works such as Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. At this point it is clear to see that they have settled into a familiar partnership with each other however ironically it comes out as forced in the movie.

  Jason Bateman sadly does a flat out bad job of being Agent Zoil one of Paul's pursuers. The fact of the matter is Bateman comes off as a nice guy naturally anything else seems forced and impossible to believe.Bill Hader however does a great job as the eager to impress ambitious agent Haggard and actually in the end would have made a better fit for the role of Zoil. Jane Lynch and Sigourney Weaver who both make brief appearances in the film do a wonderful job of playing their characters considering how small and one dimensional they are. Strangely with the exception of Rogan it is largely the supporting cast that comes off as more believable in this film than the main stars.

  The movie's plot is frankly predictable as they come so it's really more about what they do on the ride and the laughs not to mention that there is barely a plot in the first place. The soundtrack keeps the party going but isn't anything out of this world, kind of filler music at a party between D.J.s. The computer animation, stunts and explosions are all nicely done and cool to watch although by no means revolutionary. When it comes down to it if you're in the mood for a movie with laughs but no subsistence hitch a ride with Paul.