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PAUL (2011): Aliens’R Us

April 30th 2011 08:29

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After having some naughty fun with gamer zombies and deranged masons in Shaun of the Dead (2004) and Hot Fuzz (2007) respectively, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost were probably wondering what the natural progression for their next project would be, and then eureka: a monolith dropped – aliens! Wasn’t there a little TV series you might have heard of in the 90s called The X-Files? I bet Simon really just wanted to be Scully. So voila, the idea for Paul (2011) was birthed. Superbad's Greg Mottola was thoughtfully brought in to deliver this Encounters of the Third Kind spoof-themed baby, with Seth Rogen (who else?) providing lip service to the ET-style CG muppet.

This time around, the British dynamic duo is enjoying themselves - and boasting lots of head hair as an added bonus - in the roles of Graeme Willy (Pegg) and Clive Gollings (Frost), avid comic book fans on a pilgrimage from the UK to the mecca of both comic cons and UFO encounters – Area 51 & Roswell, New Mexico. After a few cheap shots at geeky gatherings (think Easter Show focused on comics) and some inept social faux pas that frankly don’t do much for pom-redneck relations, what looks like a black government car crashes in front of their RV. Graeme and Clive think the wise thing might be to call it in, but a deep voice from the surrounding darkness begs to differ.

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost enjoying their hair in Paul (2011)

Enter Paul, the typical 4 ft gray alien (well, his eyes are prettier), but he’s basically a CG version of Seth Rogen in an alien suit, i.e. the most down to earth alien imaginable. He likes to swear and make inappropriate gestures, too. While Paul may be a rather sympathetic, chilled dude, here’s an idea to contemplate: imagine making assumptions about an entire race of any kind, on the basis of being introduced to only one individual. Would launching George W. Bush (off the top of my head) into space be an adequate representation of what humanity is all about?

Considering Paul the Alien only has four fingers, what exactly is he trying to say?

There is also a veritable parade of actors enjoying their cameo roles in this spoof, with Jason Bateman as an inscrutable MIB, Kristen Wiig with half her eye glasses creepily blacked out, Blythe Danner (perhaps best known as mother of Gwyneth Paltrow) as a ridiculed UFO witness, and Sigourney Weaver portraying all the Illuminati in one by the sheer force of her Alien(s) track record. Speaking of, Jane Lynch traded her famous Glee track suits for a blonde wig in Paul, but remains equally scary as a Roswell diner hostess; it’s a shame she didn’t get more screen time here – there is certainly more glee when she’s around.

Jane Lynch brings the glee factor to Paul (2011)

If you like your movies with a large dose of arse related humour (code for male bonding, I’m told), you’ll have a whale of a time. While watching, I have come up with a couple of my own conspiracy theories: could the rampant preoccupation of straight males with scatological functions, balls and gay innuendo indicate a secret passion for one another? Or is it just a coarse outlet for affection which finds an expression that is in keeping with macho posturing? I am sure thick books already have been written about this subject, however insecure adolescent bantering does get tiresome after a while.

Overall, this is pretty tame stuff (although the fanatic gun-bearing Christian folk might have some hiccups, but they usually do regardless), not quite up to standard of the Pegg/Frost previous comic endeavours. Alas, British humour inevitably had to get somewhat diluted to pass through American customs and the well-oiled Hollywood machine. According to conspiratorial lore, movies featuring aliens tend to be funded by the CIA to keep the general public up to speed with above top secret projects since the Roswell crash in 1947, without actually admitting anything – that would be illegal (plausible deniability it’s called). Re-watching Contact, Avatar and Star Wars with that perspective in mind certainly makes for an interesting evening or two. Paul the alien actually claims to have advised Spielberg, invented agent Mulder, and confirms a few conspiracy theories along the way, implying this mainstream comedy might have a little bit of an agenda with a pinch of disclosure of its own. Wink wink.

Nick Frost explains what it's all about in Paul (2011)

Following the sci-fi theme, Pegg is due to appear as Scotty in yet another Star Trek sequel, announced for 2012, so there is hope out there: maybe thanks to his inside contacts he’ll beam us all up – to the Little AleInn (here’s hoping!) before it all comes crashing down…