Happily, Paul is the film’s greatest asset. A fantastically realised CG creation who gets all the funniest lines and is brilliantly voiced by Seth Rogen, he’s the spark of originality that makes this film worthwhile.
The geek brothers travel across the world only to find themselves. The resulting road movie is fondly indulgent rather than inspired, breezy but broad and indicative of treasured talents coasting.
The laugh count is topped by any single episode of Spaced, the delightfully geeky suburban sitcom in which stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost made their breakthrough.
The problem is self-indulgence and a distinct shortage of real gags.
It’s a one joke movie, but the joke is funny.
Pauly scripted and alienating.
Writers Pegg and Frost keep the silliness bubbling along nicely.
Pegg is likeable as usual, Frost more doltish than usual, and Kristen Wiig an appealing convert from Bible-thumper to ladette.
A rude, crude romp at times but with enough wit and affection to make you smile.
It targets the geeks with playful references to Star Wars, ET and Star Trek crowbarred in at every turn. A close encounter of the self-indulgent kind.
As a concept, it's not without promise, but Pegg and Frost's script (their first together) isn't tight enough and nor is Superbad director Greg Mottolo's freewheeling style, which fatally exposes his Brit stars' limited acting abilities.
Too cosy to be very exciting. It's less Hot Fuzz than warm and fuzzy.
They comically recapitulate the plots of several movies, broadly and amusingly.
Broader and more accessible than either Shaun Of The Dead or Hot Fuzz, Paul is pure Pegg and Frost - clever, cheeky and very, very funny. You'll never look at E. T. in the same way again.
At two hours, Paul goes on too long with almost as many endings as Lord Of The Rings. There's still a lot of goodwill towards Pegg and Frost, despite Run Fatboy Run and The Boat That Rocked, but this ET feels phoned in.
Simon Pegg and Nick Frost continue bromance in Paul
'Paul': The funny thing about being an alien...
Simon Pegg and Nick Frost: Losers in love
Simon Pegg impressed by CGI alien
Looks like another alien encounter for Sigourney
Is there anybody out there?
Kristen Wiig swaps Saturday Night Live for Simon Pegg comedy, Paul
General release. Check local listings for show times.