Sometimes, although not very often, it’s possible to go see a movie without knowing very much about it in advance — and walk out of the theater with a big smile on your face.
That’s exactly what happened with “Paul,” the alien road trip movie from Brits Nick Frost and Simon Pegg. The two best friends and collaborators were responsible for “Shaun of the Dead” and “Hot Fuzz,” both genre favorites, but neither of which was widely seen.
“Paul” is just a delight, from the opening shot of the two geeky guys at ComicCon in San Diego and their encounter with a well-known author who gives them the brushoff, and, somewhat of a spoiler here, ends up being their bitch.
In the film, directed by Greg Mottola,Pegg plays Graeme Willy and Frost plays Clive Gollings, and they decide to set off on a road trip to explore America’s UFO heartland in a huge, clunky RV. It’s based on an actual road trip they took in 2007 from Los Angeles to Denver, carrying with them, for some reason, the bust of an alien.
The two likable characters, who are constantly accused of being gay by those they encounter in just about every situation, quickly have a close encounter with an alien who is unassumedly named Paul. Paul is actually a rowdy, profane, cigarette smoking version of E.T., with the same big huge head and wide eyes — and magical powers to cure people and also to make himself invisible.
He also has a direct line to Steven Spielberg, and claims to have created the character of Mulder.
But Paul is tired of being a consultant on so many science fiction blockbusters, and he is on a new mission. His time on earth is coming to an end and he has to get back to his alien planet from a pickup point in the Nevada desert, and he needs a ride. Let’s just say that crazy things and hilarity ensue along the way, especially with SNL’s Kristen Wiig as a one-eyed trailer park employee with a violent redneck father.
And of course, there are other bad guys hot on their tail as they traverse the desert with stops at convenience stores, gas stations and dive restaurants along the way. Wiig’s SNL castmate Bill Hader plays a supporting role as a federal agent with Jason Bateman as his ambitious boss and a great cameo from the Alien herself, Sigourney Weaver.
Even casual fans of landmark sci-fi films like “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” will appreciate all the funny homages to alien culture, as it were.
And as far as buddy road trip movies go, this one ranks right up there as a do not miss.
