The film follows the lives of two English "nerds" who visit America while on vacation. They intend to visit all of the extraterrestrial hotspots in the US, like Area 51 and Roswell. Things take a turn for the weird when they meet an actual alien, Paul, driving down the highway. Paul convinces them to help him escape from government agents attempting to capture and dissect him.
It's an easy premise to follow, and the cast is top-notch: Simon Pegg and Nick Frost (of Shaun of the Dead fame) as the protagonists, with Seth Rogen doing the voice of Paul. Saturday Night Live alumni Kristen Wiig plays an atypical love interest, while Jason Bateman (of Arrested Development) stars as one of the primary antagonists.
I've enjoyed Pegg and North's works as fanciful excursions into the realm of the weird. Shaun of the Dead was a charming satire of zombie cinema, while Hot Fuzz was a supremely entertaining love letter to the action film genre. Director Greg Mottola has comedies like Adventureland and Superbad under his belt. He knows how to make comedy movies, or at least how to make a certain type of comedy movie. I can see parallels between his earlier works and Paul in the way the characters interact, as well as the way the movie flows.
Paul was interesting if only for the chance to see a comedy where a computer-animated character interacts with real actors on a comfortable level. I laughed aloud several times during the nearly two-hour run time. Yet there always seemed to be something missing with Paul. Something keeping the movie from becoming a genius comedy. I won't presume to tell you what it's lacking, but I will admit that it is worth at least one watch.
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