‘Paul’ awkwardly blends American and British humor

By Alec Lautanen
Theme Editor

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost have officially graduated from obscure British actors to well known filmmakers. Their new film, “Paul,” continues their line of semi-satirical comedies with the story of two science fiction buffs, Graeme Willy (Pegg) and Clive Gollings (Frost), who discover and travel with an extra-terrestrial, Paul (voiced by Seth Rogen).

The film is not without its laughable moments, but the overall movie lacks the intruiging originality that secured Pegg and Frost’s cult following. “Paul” is an awkward hybrid of British humor and the raunchy, foul-mouthed Judd Apatow style of American comedy.

Typically British elements like black comedy and love between the socially inept are present, along with generally American motifs such as the satirization of extreme marijuana use and slapstick crotch-shot comedy.

“Paul,” chronicles Willy and Gollings attempts to help Paul after his escape from Area 51. The road-trip style comedy also features Kristen Wiig as Ruth Buggs, a creationist Christian with whom Willy and Gollings also travel.

“Paul” is Pegg and Frost’s first collaboration in four years. In “Paul,” much of the typically British humor present in “Shaun of the Dead” and “Hot Fuzz” is absent. American influences from director Greg Mottola, who directed both “Superbad” and “Adventureland,” and Rogen supplement this British style.

The main showcase of these influences is in Paul’s character. Paul curses constantly, smokes pot, and enjoys making jokes about anal probing–all traits one would expect from a character played by Seth Rogen. Paul’s jokes themselves are often funny, but don’t match particularly well with awkward nerd-types Willy and Gollings.

However, Pegg and Frost fans will enjoy the constant references to old sci-fi movies. Just as “Shaun of the Dead” and “Hot Fuzz” paid homage to zombie-horror and shoot-‘em-up police action genres, “Paul” includes numerous allusions to classic science-fiction films. From a country music troupe playing “Cantina Band” at a road stop bar to Sigourney Weaver of “Alien” playing the head of the CIA, the references don’t disappoint.

Another praise-worthy aspect of “Paul” is the supporting cast. Jason Bateman, Bill Hader and Joe Lo Truglio play the group of CIA agents tracking Paul, with Hader taking a sincere but comedic position watching over rookie agents Hader and Lo Truglio. Jane Lynch of recent “Glee” fame and David Koechner (sportscaster Champ Kind in “Anchorman”) also make appearances as locals involved in Willy and Gollings’ quest.

The funniest moments of the film are the ones where Pegg and Frost take full advantage of their background in English comedies. Paul telling off Buggs and undermining all her creationist beliefs is perhaps one of the most British moments in the entire movie–a direct jab at American fundamentalism.

While “Paul” isn’t quite the raunchy American comedy that the Rogen-Mottola duo would suggest or the typically British film expected of Pegg and Frost, it’s still enjoyable in its own right. The two genres may not work completely together, but “Paul” is still worth seeing.

“Paul” is rated R and is playing in theaters nationwide.