Go check out “Paul.” A self-proclaimed love letter to Spielberg (who even has a cameo), it chronicles the adventures of two nerds played by Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, doing for alien encounter films what they’ve done for zombie flicks and cop movies. On a road trip following the San Diego Comic Con, they wind up unwillingly giving a lift to a convivial alien (voiced by Seth Rogen) who is on the run from an MIB-like agency that wants to pick his brain…literally. Filled with countless in-jokes and inspired meta casting (who runs the agency that’s out to get the alien? Sigourney Weaver, of course), “Paul” will enable you to discern the kindred spirits in the theater by who laughs at certain lines (ex: dialogue from “Star Wars,” “Aliens,” and other classics show up at unexpected and yet wholly appropriate moments.) Along for the ride is SNL’s Kristen Wiig as an die-hard bible thumper who unexpectedly has her world widened and winds up reveling in using profanity (badly) and exploring physical pleasure (awkwardly).
Naturally this is the kind of film that Oscar will never have any truck with, but if it’s not up for a Hugo next year, there’s no justice.
PAD
Originally published January 1995, in Comics Buyer’s Guide 1995 Annual
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