Big Screen Peter: Paul

Editor’s note: Peter Lewis has agreed to use whatever it is you call his writing style to provide some measure of analysis to those folks who still go to a theater to see a movie.

review by Peter Lewis

In terms of presentation, Paul is a novel concept. It’s a cross-genre romp, melding conspiracy laden sci-fi with an escapist buddy-pic travelogue. And throughout the film, the audience is peppered with a humorous melange of stoner-tinged, British subtlety. It’s smart, witty and great fun.

The film stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost as Graeme WIlly & Clive Gollings, two geeky sci-fi nerds visiting San Diego for Comic-Con — an annual festival celebrating all walks of hip-geekdom.

Of course this realm is no new thing for Pegg and Frost. As the creative force behind such cult hits as “Shaun of the Dead” and “Hot Fuzz,” the duo has created a cottage industry attracting the sort of folks that habituate the Comic-Con scene.

And Paul is just the latest plug for their humorous niche market.

Following their fun at Comic-Con, the alien obsessed pair plan on road-tripping eastward from San Diego, hitting all the extraterrestrial hot-spots, from Area 51 and the Black Mailbox on through Roswell. This well-thought out plan hits a bit of a bump in the form of Paul, an extraterrestrial on the lamb from the Big Man. The normally meek duo set off on a chaotic, cross-country trek to help Paul get away from his captors and back home.

One of the more interesting aspects of the film is the societal commentary it provides the audience. While alone, Graeme & Nick are completely at ease. When confronted by others, this ease morphs into a meek self-consciousness, bumbling and embarrassed by the continual assumptions that the pair are amorous instead of amiable pals.

In stark contrast to this is Paul. Though undoubtedly a "live and let live" styled slacker, he undoubtedly possesses a level of sagacity rarely seen in most mature adults. Perhaps it can be chalked up to his advanced knowledge, but no matter how you explain it, Paul is an unabashed societal critic. Blithely slashing the misguided beliefs, he sees people as they are and is unafraid to call a spade a spade.

Pegg and Frost both play their parts to seamless perfection. They are vulnerable characters, reveling in fantasy worlds and relying on each other to fend off sharper edges of reality. They exist within themselves and this unreality dovetails perfectly with Paul’s tenuous situation. It’s this unique mix of humanity and humor that pushes the film forward and invests the audience in the outcome.

There are missteps no doubt, but in the face of such a heartwarming flick, it’s seems disingenuous to delineate them in full. Instead, know that the film doesn’t quite reach the heights of earlier efforts by Pegg and Frost, but the cinematic probe is well worth the experience.

• Paul is playing at the Carmike 14 and the Malco Cinema 12 in Fort Smith, and the Malco Van Buren Cinema. Link here for time and ticket info.

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