REVIEW: PAUL

3/5

Not out of this world, but still it takes off.

15, 104 Minutes. Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Seth Rogan, Sigourney Weaver, Kristen Wiig & Jason Bateman. Directors: Greg Mottola. Screenplay: Simon Pegg & Nick Frost

The latest film by our very own lovable Brits Simon Pegg and Nick Frost delves into the science fiction genre in a not so traditional way. When two Sci-Fi geeks Pegg and Frost travel to the US in the hope of catching a glimpse of notorious UFO hotspots they get more than they bargained for when they literally crash into Paul, an eccentric alien who has been ‘chillin’ at a secret base in area 51 for the past 50 years.

Looking at Pegg’s track record with films I was anticipating a film closely on par for comedy with 'Shaun Of The Dead' and 'Hot Fuzz' however, 'Paul' is slightly disappointing in the comedy department. The film tries to hard to cater for both English and American audiences and the two types of humour mixed together don’t always work effectively. That isn’t to say that the film doesn’t have its moments, when the comedy works it works well, Pegg and Frost bounce off each other not to mention the superb vocal performance given by Seth Rogan which would have your believing that Paul was actually his true form.

In regards to the science fiction, this film totally kicks ass! With intertextual references to both popular science fiction outlets and a little of the lesser known, Paul really does provide something for everyone. The story is a fun journey of self discovery, friendship and extremely closes encounters, with a great cast including some pleasant surprises from the science fiction world; 'Paul' truly does do it’s genre proud in both the stereotypical and the more modern take on sci-fi culture.

Although I probably wont be rushing out to buy the DVD this film was a great way to spend my Saturday afternoon, and I'd recommend it as an easy watch to go and see with a group of mates. SAMANTHA SMITH.