Paul (2011)
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Two science fiction geeks encounter an alien being and must help him escape from the government.
The story
Best friends Graeme Willy and Clive Gollings, two British sci-fi enthusiasts, travel to the United States for the San Diego Comic-Con. During a road trip through the Southwestern U.S. to visit UFO sites, they encounter a crash site and find Paul, a grey alien. Despite Clive's fear, Graeme agrees to help the extraterrestrial. They soon find themselves pursued by Secret Service agents who are attempting to capture the alien. The group must navigate a series of obstacles and encounters with various people while trying to ensure Paul can safely return to his home planet.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Graeme Willy and Clive Gollings, two British sci-fi fans, are on a road trip to visit UFO sites in the American Southwest when they discover Paul, a grey alien. They take him in, and the group—which eventually includes a local woman named Ruth and a woman named Tara who has lived in isolation for years—must evade Secret Service agents. The plot involves various set pieces, including a confrontation with religious fundamentalists and a standoff at the Devils Tower National Monument. During the climax, it is revealed that Agent Zoil is actually trying to help Paul escape. After a series of events where Paul uses his healing powers and the group faces a military response, Paul eventually returns to his home planet. Two years later, Graeme and Clive are seen at another Comic-Con promoting a book about their experiences.
- First release year
- 2011
- Runtime (minutes)
- 104
- Production countries
- United Kingdom; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Greg Mottola
- Writers
- Simon Pegg · writer; Nick Frost · writer
- Cast and characters
- Simon Pegg · Graeme Willy; Nick Frost · Clive Gollings; Seth Rogen · Paul; Jason Bateman · Special Agent Lorenzo Zoil; Kristen Wiig · Ruth Buggs; Bill Hader · Agent Haggard; Blythe Danner · Tara Walton; John Carroll Lynch · Moses Buggs
- Genres
- science fiction; comedy; road film
- Themes
- sci-fi fandom; friendship
- Tone and mood
- comedy; parody
- Setting
- Southwestern United States, including a desert highway and the San Diego Comic-Con.
- Premise and plot tags
- road trip; alien encounter; parody
- Content notes
- language; drug use
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics and was a box-office success.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 70% · review count: 205; Metacritic · score: 57 · review count: 37
- Awards and nominations
- Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in a Live Action Production · 39th Annie Awards · nominated; Outstanding Animated Character in a Live Action Feature Motion Picture · 10th Visual Effects Society Awards · nominated
- Production trivia
- The film is a parody of science-fiction films, especially those of Steven Spielberg.; The idea was conceived by Pegg and Frost in 2003.; The film features a cameo by Steven Spielberg as a voice on a speakerphone.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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