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5

filmtrashreviewJun 8, 2011

Pegg and Frost lost the physical comedy that made there films so enjoyable and replaced it with foul language laughs that are better left to Will Farrell and Company. Those that love a cheesy comedy will still enjoy this overall piece of purePegg and Frost lost the physical comedy that made there films so enjoyable and replaced it with foul language laughs that are better left to Will Farrell and Company. Those that love a cheesy comedy will still enjoy this overall piece of pure silliness.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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5

AlienSpaceBatsSep 15, 2013

Enjoyable at face value, but unremarkable and formulaic. Humour masquerading as Star Wars references (not funny), Paul plays it safe, setups can be seen a mile off. Most of the jokes have been used elsewhere, to better effect.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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5

RyanPrattSep 12, 2011

Rent-it - This sci-fi comedy about an alien who needs a ride across the country is not nearly as clever as Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, but Simon Pegg and Nick Frost's latest creation does serve up some intergalactic entertainment and isRent-it - This sci-fi comedy about an alien who needs a ride across the country is not nearly as clever as Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, but Simon Pegg and Nick Frost's latest creation does serve up some intergalactic entertainment and is at times hysterical - "at times."… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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5

KgnDavelNov 26, 2011

Through the history of my part in metacritic, I've rated only movies and games that deserve it. But this is the first time I've given a score this low. This movie I admit wasfunny and cool, but it felt that all the swearing was unnecessary.Through the history of my part in metacritic, I've rated only movies and games that deserve it. But this is the first time I've given a score this low. This movie I admit wasfunny and cool, but it felt that all the swearing was unnecessary. If you like a movie where they swear you head off, then watch this. If you don't well then you know the answer. Not me I don't like that sort of thing.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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5

dareganDec 8, 2011

Basically this movie is a bunch of shout-outs to other sci-fi movies strung together by a weak plot. Yes, these cameos are super cool, especially the big boss at the end, but is it enough to make a movie? Is nostalgia enough to keep you inBasically this movie is a bunch of shout-outs to other sci-fi movies strung together by a weak plot. Yes, these cameos are super cool, especially the big boss at the end, but is it enough to make a movie? Is nostalgia enough to keep you in your seat? Eh, maybe. By the way there is a ton of cursing in this movie, hence the R rating.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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5

TrilobiteGJan 13, 2016

It has good intentions this film does. At least this crude sci-fi comedy has some moments of awe and emotion to it right? Seth Rogen plays the character of Paul very well. He is charming, likeable and you attatch to him immediately. ApartIt has good intentions this film does. At least this crude sci-fi comedy has some moments of awe and emotion to it right? Seth Rogen plays the character of Paul very well. He is charming, likeable and you attatch to him immediately. Apart from that, this is a deeply flawed movie. Some jokes don't land, others do. Some plot points make no sense. It's such a shame this was a comedy I remember loving. Now it's just ok, not bad, not too good either.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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5

MovieMasterEddyApr 3, 2016

Visiting Comic-Con in San Diego, aspiring illustrator Graeme Willy (Pegg) and wannabe sci-fi writer Clive Gollings (Frost) are in geek heaven, especially when they meet their idol, Adam Shadowchild (Jeffrey Tambor, in a droll cameo). AfterVisiting Comic-Con in San Diego, aspiring illustrator Graeme Willy (Pegg) and wannabe sci-fi writer Clive Gollings (Frost) are in geek heaven, especially when they meet their idol, Adam Shadowchild (Jeffrey Tambor, in a droll cameo). After the convention, they take a road trip in a rented RV, planning to visit all the Southwest’s most famous UFO hot spots, from Nevada’s Area 51 to Roswell, N.M.

En route, they almost collide with another car that runs off the road. The driver turns out to be laidback dude-from-another-planet Paul, who, with his huge eyes, massive head and spindly body, looks exactly like the classic small, gray aliens of yore — apart from his cargo shorts, that is. Assuring Graeme and Clive that he’s in trouble and needs help, and promising that he has no intention of anally probing them, Paul hitches a ride.

Action cuts between the guys in the RV and Paul’s pursuers, another trio made up of hardass Agent Zoil (Jason Bateman) and two goofy rookies, Haggard (Bill Hader) and O’Reilly (Joe Lo Truglio), whose own development is just as arrested as Graeme and Clive’s.

Although it transpires that Paul is on his way to rejoin his mothership, there’s little sense of urgency as he, Graeme and Clive make pit stops along the way. Tension is generated only by whether or not someone else will glimpse Paul; at one stop, Clive becomes smitten with Ruth Buggs (Kristen Wiig), a shy, sheltered fundamentalist Christian with a clouded eye, and they end up kidnapping her in the nicest possible way when she accidentally spots the alien.

One of the winning things about Pegg’s scripts for “Shaun of the Dead” and “Hot Fuzz” (which he co-wrote with helmer Edgar Wright), was the way they managed to riff on the genres they spoofed while still delivering sympathetic, reasonably rounded characters, particularly ones whose heroics were undercut by their exaggeratedly mild English manners. The screenplay for “Paul,” credited to co-stars Pegg and Frost, sticks largely to the same formula, but the transplant to American soil hasn’t proved quite as fertile. Despite a few laugh-out-loud moments, the hit-miss ratio is lower this time around, perhaps due to Wright’s absence. Although the gags never push film in-jokes to the absurd levels of the “Scary Movie” franchise and its ilk, sometimes the nudges (such as numerous references to Steven Spielberg, who literally phones in a cameo) serve to show off the filmmakers’ range of references rather than to further the story.

Meanwhile, the edgy-slackerish sensibility Rogen and Mottola might have been expected to bring to the party lacks the spontaneity of their previous collaborations, “Superbad” and TV series “Undeclared.” Certainly this feels like a bit of a regression for Mottola, taking on a studio work-for-hire after his underrated indie “Adventureland,” while Rogen, constrained by a more-or-less voice-only perf (his movements and expressions have been replicated somewhat for Paul’s animation), sounds like he’s on autopilot.

It’s Wiig who impresses most here with a bravura display of comic timing and some of the filthiest lines in the film (once she learns to cuss, Ruth goes at it with a vengeance). Her character’s sudden disavowal of intelligent design and embrace of hedonism is clunkily written, but the thesp manages to put it across with verve.

Pic is executed with pro polish. Combo of CGI and puppetry to create the charmingly designed Paul is seamless, although the thesps don’t always convincingly pretend that they’re interacting with a character they can actually see, instead of a tennis ball on a stick to create eyeline matches.

Part bromance, part sci-fi spoof and all a bit disappointing.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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4

soldoutactivistMar 20, 2011

"Seth Rogen is 'perfect' as Paul," primarily because you don't spend the movie watching the real Seth Rogen attempt acting. That alone garnered an extra point from me. The movie itself was ET meets Star Wars references written by people who"Seth Rogen is 'perfect' as Paul," primarily because you don't spend the movie watching the real Seth Rogen attempt acting. That alone garnered an extra point from me. The movie itself was ET meets Star Wars references written by people who smoked a lot of weed during the writing process.… Expand

4 of 6 users found this helpful42

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4

JimmyMcVMar 22, 2011

It seemed like this was the guideline when Pegg/Frost penned PAUL - When in dire need of a laugh, do one of the following:

1) Have a character drop the F-bomb or equivalent. 2) Have a character faint. 3) Make a homophobic comment or dwellIt seemed like this was the guideline when Pegg/Frost penned PAUL - When in dire need of a laugh, do one of the following:

1) Have a character drop the F-bomb or equivalent.
2) Have a character faint. 3) Make a homophobic comment or dwell on the subject. Overall, a lazily written comedy.
Maybe the problem was we needed more action, more *surprising* action: SHAUN OF THE DEAD and HOT FUZZ had plenty of that. Not enough crazy action and, more importantly, not enough Surprises = lame comedy.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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4

Btonks1Mar 26, 2011

I found the acting, for a start, to be acceptable, with some cases being quite memorable (Jason Bateman, Kirsten Wigg) If you enjoy good acting, a film worth a watch. However, it falls very very flat on the script, with poor, recycled andI found the acting, for a start, to be acceptable, with some cases being quite memorable (Jason Bateman, Kirsten Wigg) If you enjoy good acting, a film worth a watch. However, it falls very very flat on the script, with poor, recycled and lack luster jokes. This film just has none of the strength of Hot Fuzz or the creativity of Shaun Of The Dead.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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4

BearDownApr 12, 2011

I think you have to be a fan of the Shaun of the Dead cult to enjoy this movie. I didn't hate the film but it was almost borderline terrible. The kudos have to go to Kristen Wiig. This woman is a very funny comedian. Pretty muchI think you have to be a fan of the Shaun of the Dead cult to enjoy this movie. I didn't hate the film but it was almost borderline terrible. The kudos have to go to Kristen Wiig. This woman is a very funny comedian. Pretty much everything that she does in the film is laughable. Seth Rogan also lends his voice to the alien which helps the case for the movie not totally bombing. Rent it and save some money.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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3

BazahApr 23, 2011

This movie is definitely a wait for DVD. How anyone can compare this hunk of rubbish to hot fuzz astounds me?! The dialogue is pitiful, and the movie never really knew what type it was. It goes between comedy, to romance, to tear-jerker,This movie is definitely a wait for DVD. How anyone can compare this hunk of rubbish to hot fuzz astounds me?! The dialogue is pitiful, and the movie never really knew what type it was. It goes between comedy, to romance, to tear-jerker, to political. I don't mind the ole bag on religion jokes, but they seemed to forget people came to watch a comedy. I didn't pay 15 bucks so I could have Simon Pegg's personal views about religion pushed down my throat. Noone with an I.Q. above 50 would think that a comedy, whose main material was a swearing Christian is worthy of any real recognition.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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3

CastleFoxSep 3, 2011

A HUGE disappointment. I was so excited to see this movie that I paid $20 dollars for the DVD having never seen the movie (Should have red boxed it for a $1 dollar.) I feel ripped off and now can't even sell the DVD on Ebay.

This movie hadA HUGE disappointment. I was so excited to see this movie that I paid $20 dollars for the DVD having never seen the movie (Should have red boxed it for a $1 dollar.) I feel ripped off and now can't even sell the DVD on Ebay.

This movie had such potential with the budget and cast of characters but it fell on it's face HARD.

The storyline was very poor, the writing was worse, the jokes were nonexistent, and the entire movie felt like someone sat down one evening with a beer and some weed and wrote out a really lazy concept with an obvious anti-Christian and anti-Creation agenda. The trailer is actually the best part of the movie, and aside from 2 or 3 funny one liners, this movie is a HUGE waist of money, talent and resources. It's just lazy and disappointing all around. If you want to see it, get it from a $1 dollar rental box first. As for me, if I can't sell the DVD on Ebay, I'll BURN IT.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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3

shimano6000Sep 15, 2011

This is such a disappointing movie. It could have been great if they had recognised they could have been funny, even hilarious, without needing so much language. There are so many funny people in this movie, and they have missed out on aThis is such a disappointing movie. It could have been great if they had recognised they could have been funny, even hilarious, without needing so much language. There are so many funny people in this movie, and they have missed out on a great opportunity for a wider family audience. The references to other movies is great, but will be missed by the people who never end up seeing this movie. Sad when you finish watching a movie that should be funny and instead end up feeling dirty and mucky! If you are not offended by language you will love this movie.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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3

Tss5078Feb 22, 2013

aking a funny science fiction based movie is not easy. There have been a few good ones and many many past flops. If anyone could do it, I was sure it would be Seth Rogan. I've loved almost everything he's been in and with this current streak,aking a funny science fiction based movie is not easy. There have been a few good ones and many many past flops. If anyone could do it, I was sure it would be Seth Rogan. I've loved almost everything he's been in and with this current streak, I thought he couldn't lose, but with Paul, he did. The story was original, but it was so out there that it crosses the line from funny to stupid and then doesn't go far enough to get back to funny. Paul is supposed to be this humanized alien, whose raunchy and outrageous, but the truth is he was like a hyper-active 12 year old. As for Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, they are dry and confusing, nothing new there. The only thing of interest in this film is really the cameos, so a I'd like to give a big thanks to Jason Bateman, Jane Lynch, Sigourney Weaver, Blythe Danner, Jeffery Tambor for adding something of interest to an otherwise awful movie!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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3

yayaFeb 16, 2012

The idea of the movie was really very good and I expected a lot of fun because I love Sci Fi.
But I was very disappointed because the final product is not good at all.The movie is full of rude humor and looks like it is made for teenagersThe idea of the movie was really very good and I expected a lot of fun because I love Sci Fi.
But I was very disappointed because the final product is not good at all.The movie is full of rude humor and looks like it is made for teenagers with very immature teen jokes.
I give this movie 3 only for very smart references to famous Sci Fi movies. At least the writer has seen some quality Sci Fi earlier in his life. Pity he could not create a masterpiece himself.… Expand

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

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2

highwiredaysMar 30, 2011

AWFUL. It was like a family film... but with cussing? I don't get who the target viewers of this movie was suppose to be, it was just boring and reminded me of something an 11 year old kid would like. I LOVE Pineapple Express and what's hisAWFUL. It was like a family film... but with cussing? I don't get who the target viewers of this movie was suppose to be, it was just boring and reminded me of something an 11 year old kid would like. I LOVE Pineapple Express and what's his face's other movies but this was just plan boring. I semi-laughed like 3 times? Maybe?

Avoid this or wait for DVD, who likes this movie? Why are people giving good marks? Really???… Expand

5 of 13 users found this helpful58

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2

tingleApr 3, 2011

THank god I pirated this movie. Because otherwise I would have walked out and lost $10 at the theater and someone might have seen me watching this crap. The jokes are lame, the characters are unbelievably stupid and not in a funny way but inTHank god I pirated this movie. Because otherwise I would have walked out and lost $10 at the theater and someone might have seen me watching this crap. The jokes are lame, the characters are unbelievably stupid and not in a funny way but in a you feel bad for the writer who is trying to appear smart and failing like watching bones or the ghost whisperer. I thought this would be funny but if you saw the preview you've already seen the best jokes. harvesting farts not eating a dead bird would have been better as a short rather then an hour and a half of filler and a recycled 3 boobs joke from total recall over and over again. the Christian trailer trash, the English nerd, the stupid alien couldn't be less funny. Seriously this is worse then sucker punch.… Expand

3 of 11 users found this helpful38

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2

cameronmorewoodNov 7, 2012

Seth's alien and the movie are funny for about five minutes and then we begin to figure out nothing is happening and we have to suffer through another ninety minutes of this monotonous swill.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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1

insert_hereMar 25, 2011

An unbelievably bad movie. There was nothing good about this moronic tripe. I'm giving it one for the 1 laugh i had. I doubt even teenagers would like this piece of crap.

2 of 9 users found this helpful27

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1

davidlskeenMar 18, 2011

Boring and predictable. I can't believe that Pegg and Frost went from "Shaun" and "Hot Fuzz" to create this dreck. The attempts at humor were pathetic. There were some passable references to sci-fi classics, but overall this movie is notBoring and predictable. I can't believe that Pegg and Frost went from "Shaun" and "Hot Fuzz" to create this dreck. The attempts at humor were pathetic. There were some passable references to sci-fi classics, but overall this movie is not worth your time or money.… Expand

4 of 13 users found this helpful49

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0

cosmotosisApr 11, 2011

Virtually plot-less, Paul plods along, constantly introducing character after lifeless character. Each scene is punctuated by a poorly-constructed gay joke, and the disembodiment of Seth Rogen's voice is truly unsettling.

The film, after theVirtually plot-less, Paul plods along, constantly introducing character after lifeless character. Each scene is punctuated by a poorly-constructed gay joke, and the disembodiment of Seth Rogen's voice is truly unsettling.

The film, after the opening scene of Paul's ship landing on a dog, begins with an upbeat musical montage of the main characters, forcing a familiarity of them upon the audience. They then *somehow* acquire an RV, (which they drive as if it were a Honda Civic) in a pursuit of spotting UFOs via a cross-country road trip. Now, add Paul, a gray alien who has escaped the government's clutches,. He makes a rather predictable and unintelligent introduction to our main characters. If Paul is not propaganda to make us believe that the extraterrestrial lifeforms of our universe have the personality and intelligence of any beer-bonging college human "brah", then I don't know what it is.

From there, the characters' overly-apparent awkward social graces make enemies with everyone they meet. Before long, they have a transcontinental train of gun-toting antagonists following behind them, from homophobic hillbilly redneck hunters, to the FBI. It is unclear what anyone's goal is in this movie - antagonists, protagonists, script writers, producers... what is going on?

When the investigators set up a road bock, the scene cuts directly from the officers waving traffic to the side of the road, to their RV immediately being searched, encouraging us to allow our rights to be illegally violated. I digress.

Paul finally leaves Earth by signaling his alien brethren to pick him up with... fireworks. This works not only immediately, but also very well, because fireworks haven't been fired anywhere on Earth, at any time in the past 70 years. Plot hole after plot hole, the writers abandon a potential script of substance for a cinematic faux-pas, intentionally created to condition humans to the existence of aliens, which Paul, actually points out at one part in the movie.

As for the supposedly spectacular sci-fi references, they were too few to quantify. A pathetic excuse for a sci-fi friendly film; a pathetic excuse for a film, period. 104 minutes of my life I will never get back. Imagine what else could have been done with their $40,000,000 budget...… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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0

MegWhiteleyFeb 28, 2012

I hate this movie, I don't understand what is the reason that the people watch this thing, the alien is really terrible, and the cast, only Wiig and Lynch have a great performance, but the rest is terrible. Paul have bad jokes, a goodI hate this movie, I don't understand what is the reason that the people watch this thing, the alien is really terrible, and the cast, only Wiig and Lynch have a great performance, but the rest is terrible. Paul have bad jokes, a good situation but have much mistakes.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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