Send the Alien Back
As with any film that is essentially a carry over between an ensemble of acquaintances, we have certain expectations. From Spaced to Hot Fuzz, the team of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost have been literally making milk come out of my nose (it was actually iced tea but it came from my nose none the less). With this expectation I entered into a deal with the film Paul: you make me laugh like that and I will be okay with not having Edgar Wright involved. After watching Paul, the deal is off and I feel the need to wrap up in my snuggie curled into a ball while re-watching Spaced as I weep for a grander time.
The loss of Edgar Wright is palatable and quite apparent right from the beginning of the film. Now I’m not saying that Pegg of Frost are not capable of writing and making a good film, but I get the sense that above all else, Wright is an excellent editor for the team. My biggest flaw with Paul is that the actors just don’t seem to know when to end a joke or when certain dialogue isn’t working. Various points of the film become less that acceptable simply because the dynamic is not there and the film either drags or loses my interest. The hardest part for me was caring long enough for some of the payout of the ending, but even then I was let down.
The concept is not bad, alien that is not your stereotypical alien is discovered as he is escaping from the military by two alien/comic book nerds. Hilarity ensues, or is supposed to ensue, as the group evades the authorities in an attempt to save Paul. While the spin certainly keeps you involved (although it is safe to say that same spin made A.L.F. successful), the plot meanders so that the actors can demonstrate their humor rather than move along the narrative. This only works when dealing with Ruth Buggs (Kristen Wiig), but even that aspect feels like a one trick pony. We get her naivety but after awhile it does become grating. Various other ensemble actors interject their own attempts at humor but most of those attempts fall off the radar. Did I ever mention how much I can’t stand Seth Rogen (who voices Paul)? Even when he does voice over work I find myself wishing he had something else to do aside from films. (Don’t get me started on The Green Hornet.)
Overall this feels like a stop gap until the next great Wright-Pegg-Frost film and it serves its purpose by at once giving us a taste of the potential humor and being just bad enough to make us want that collaboration more. This comes to light when you get to the end of Paul. We get a typical Hollywood happy ending that feels more like the film giving up than important. Did I cry? Um, yes but only because I was sad that the film was simply not up to par. Hopefully Paul will simply be one of those films that gets placed into the timeline of a career rather than the end. I want more Pegg and Frost, but next time make sure the film also includes Wright.