March 18, 2011 (the trailer’s listed date, “February,” is apparently inaccurate) will be a fine time indeed to be a nerd. Two of our finest, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, team up once again for the alien invasion comedy Paul.
The movie, according to imdb.com, is about two English science fiction fans (Pegg, Frost) who take a cross-country trip across America. Being science fiction fans they naturally decide to swing by the legendary Area 51 in New Mexico, and when they do, they encounter a small, cute alien named Paul (voiced by Seth Rogen). This, naturally, kicks into motion a series of wild comic adventures, which include encounters with such luminaries as Jason Bateman, Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, Blythe Danner, Joe Lo Truglio, John Carroll Lynch, David Koechner and Sigourney Weaver.
Pegg and Frost, as well as starring, co-wrote the script, which in and of itself would make me want to see this. These guys know their nerdlore (Spaced, Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz), they’ve got an established track record (ibid), and they’re absolutely hilarious (also ibid). With March oddly becoming a month when promising, interesting science fiction pictures are released, Paul figures to be, at the very least, a silly good time in the best sense of the term.
Danny Bowes is a playwright, filmmaker and blogger. He is also a contributor to nytheatre.com and Premiere.com.
