A Close Encounter of the Nerd Kind

From the lovable team of Nick Frost and Simon Pegg ("Shaun of the Dead," "Hot Fuzz") comes "Paul," a potty-mouthed, geek-themed bromance about two nerds on a road trip across the hallowed UFO-related landmarks of the American West.

This time the English duo has teamed with director Gregg Mottola ("Superbad," "Adventureland") and the vocal stylings of Seth Rogen as the titular Paul, the alien they pick up along the way. Though "Paul" is written by Frost and Pegg, you get the feeling Rogen and Mottola were definitely involved in the process merely for the copious amounts of pot smoking and gratuitous explosions.

“Paul” is the story of two BFFs – Clive (Frost), a small-time sci-fi writer, and Graeme (Pegg), an equally unknown graphic artist, who have finally made it to America to attend the San Diego Comic-Con. Several Princess Leias-in-gold bikinis later and after meeting their idol, sci-fi author Adam Shadowchild (Jeffrey Tambor), the duo set off in a rented RV to check a few “Agent Mulder-approved” sites off their list and squeeze in a little male-bonding. But a hitchhiker of sorts crashes the party in the form of a short, well-endowed, giant-headed alien named Paul.

On the run from the government, Paul implores Clive and Graeme to help him get home before he’s vivisected despite the fact that he’s been advising the US on all things alien-related since his accidental crash on Earth decades ago. Along the way they pick up (technically kidnap) Ruth (Kristen Wiig), the aging half-blind daughter of a Christian Fundamentalist trailer park proprietor and obvious love interest for Graeme. As they roadtrip, Paul imparts the wisdom of the universe via mind-meld to most of his new friends and proceeds to demystify Hollywood, Creationism and really pisses off Clive by spoiling his road trip with Graeme. The unlikely foursome is chased by secret government agents, rednecks and Ruth’s father on their way to the rendezvous point where Paul’s buds are supposed to transport him off this rock.

“Paul” is goofy, even charming, and the myriad of references and quotes from "Star Wars" to "Goonies" are pretty fun, even for the casual sci-fi/fantasy geek. Pretty much everyone will recognize the Country and Western version of the Mos Eisley Cantina song. There’s even a voice cameo from one of the most famous directors of the genre… and it’s really him. No, it’s not George Lucas (maybe the shooting schedule for “Paul” conflicted with his CGI re-imagining of Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey?” Have you heard about it? “2001” will be so much better after Lucas as changed HAL to a 20 foot tall rapping green cephalopod - that red light was sooooo boring.) Anyway, "Paul" is a decent ride – predictable, tasteless and crass with the same joke about an illustrated alien lady with 3 boobs featured not once, not twice, but five times during the 104 minute running time [Side note: the illustration is clearly a reference to iconic sci-fi author Douglas Adams’ "Eccentrica Gallumbits, the Triple-Breasted Whore of Erticon Six." Just sayin’.] 

Adding a little validity, and dare I say integrity, to the mix are Jason Bateman and Sigourney Weaver playing Men-in-Black types and they play them completely straight. Hilariously straight. They’re nice foils to the bumbling local FBI agents also chasing Paul and company played by Bill Hader and Joe Lo Truglio. Lo Truglio seems to keep popping up in these movies even though he nearly always comes off as plain creepy instead of creepy funny, which is what I can only guess they are going for. Frost and Pegg are lovely as always and Wiig is tolerable, even endearing at times. The casting is pretty brilliant and we’re treated to some particularly sharp bit parts played by Tambor, Jane Lynch and Blythe Danner.

While “Paul” will absolutely fail to surprise you at almost every plot turn, though it may briefly and suddenly become tedious with its many, many jokes about alien wangs, Rogen’s alien is pretty damn likable and the CGI only rims the uncanny valley. Is that last collection of words really dirty or is it only because I’ve spent the last two hours prior to writing this watching a film where every third line contains the word "titties," "balls," and/or "poop?"  No, it’s not all that sophomoric. “Paul” is actually pretty clever with its ability to arrange common filth into new phrasing, none of which has any danger of catching on outside of college dorm rooms (and even then only the dorm rooms of nerds). 

“Paul” isn’t exactly going to appeal to “real” sci-fi aficionados, but the filmmakers had enough grit to shoot at San Diego Comic-Con and Devil’s Tower. Both Frost and Pegg play their respective nerds with dignity, but that could just an English thing. They make everything seem cooler and more interesting somehow. “Paul” doesn’t have the magic that Frost and Pegg create with their usual collaborator Edgar Wright (“Spaced,” “Shaun of the Dead,” “Hot Fuzz”), but at its worse it’s a little gross and hackneyed, and at best it’s really funny, surprisingly enjoyable and totally ridiculous. 

Oh, and don’t worry; the Klingon is subtitled for the viewing pleasure of non-speakers.

"Paul" is now playing at:

UA King Of Prussia Stadium 16 & IMAX, 300 Goddard Blvd., King Of Prussia.

AMC Plymouth Meeting 12, 494 W. Germantown Pike, Plymouth Meeting.

Regal Marketplace at Oaks Stadium 24, 180 Mill Road, Oaks.

For more of Megan Carr’s movie reviews and media musings, visit her website at therestiscreamcheese.com.