Paul: Revenge of the Nerds

By Suzanne Fitzpatrick

Director: Greg Mottola Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Seth Rogen, Bill Hader, Jason Bateman and Sigourney Weaver.

Eight years after their last cinematic expedition together (the mega Hot Fuzz), comedy super-duo Simon Pegg and Nick Frost thankfully return to our golden screens this month with Paul.

Logically, expectations for this film are high; it was written by Pegg and Frost who are undoubtedly one of the best comedy twosome on our side of the Atlantic, it hosts a stellar cast and it’s directed by Greg Mottola who was responsible for that little known flick Superbad. Surely it will be immense. Fortunately, these expectations are entirely met.

The plot follows Brit comic book enthusiasts/ nerds Graeme Willy (Pegg) and Clive Gollings (Frost) on their pilgrimage to the States for ComicCon and visit to alien-associated locations in the mid-west like Area 51 and the famous UFO observation spot, The Black Mailbox. Along their geek-tastic travels, they run into a cursing, smoking extra-terrestrial who needs to get home to avoid being caught by ill-intended US authorities pursuing him, namely Special Agent Zoil (Bateman) and his FBI competition, Haggard (Hader). Along their way, they also gain pursuit from the father of a woman they’ve unintentionally kidnapped.

Sound like a predictable plot? Maybe. But the twists and witty gags that appear to and from the characters are anything but boring. This film could have easily been just another ‘alien-trying-to-get-home’ movie but the writers have cleverly noted that and tapped into other films that incorporate just that but in a funny and tremendously enjoyable way. E.T., Close Encounters and Trek references dot the script but in such a fashion that it’s original, not cheesy. It only makes it all the more hilarious and likable as a story. The references are so cleverly made that they could only be seen as boosts for the film instead of making it humdrum. As Frost and Pegg said, the film is an “homage” to sci-fi, alien and nerd flicks and what an homage it is.

Screw E.T.. Paul (voiced by Rogen) is absolutely the most brilliant, charming and hilarious alien creation brought to screen. Double Negative, who created the animation, have produced an absolutely stunning fabrication that is heart-warming to watch. Rogen’s gruff and distinct voice fits the character perfectly. You find yourself almost forgetting it’s him because Paul takes on a life of his own on screen so strongly. This, combined with the unconventionalism of the space creature, is the essence of his brilliance and the uniqueness of the story.

Being Class-A geeks in real life, Pegg and Frost work flawlessly at taking on the role of comic creatrs and nerd culture know-it-all’s (for example, they speak Klingon). Their characters differ to other roles they’ve played both opposite each other and in separate projects. Frost, usually the overtly suave and confident character, is far more conscienscious and sensitive in this film which is quite nice to see. Together they are utterly wonderful as are the characteristics and portrayals of those they meet along their journey (note the fantastic cameos from Jane Lynch and the short appearance of Sigourney Weaver).

Paul is a new take on alien flicks and one of the few comedy flicks of the extra-terrestrial kind, in any, in recent years. It could easily have been boring, tacky and predictable but Pegg and Frost were the perfect people to have done such a film and to ensure it gave a fresh twist to an otherwise geeky, clichéd genre.