Movie · 2011 · Adventure, Comedy, Science Fiction · 1h 44m · R · English
Curator score: 2.8/10 (569.9K ratings)
Who's up for a close encounter?
Overview
For the past 60 years, a space-traveling smart-ass named Paul has been locked up in a top-secret military base, advising world leaders about his kind. But when he worries he’s outlived his usefulness and the dissection table is drawing uncomfortably close, Paul escapes on the first RV that passes by his compound in Area 51. Fortunately, it contains the two earthlings who are most likely to rescue and harbor an alien on the run.
Ratings
Curator score: 2.8/10
IMDb: 6.9/10
Letterboxd: 3.11/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 70%
Metacritic: 57
TMDB: 6.7/10
Director
Greg Mottola
Production
Relativity Media, Working Title Films, Big Talk Studios, Universal Pictures
Cast
Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Seth Rogen, Jason Bateman, Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, Blythe Danner, Joe Lo Truglio, John Carroll Lynch, Jane Lynch, David Koechner, Jesse Plemons, Sigourney Weaver, Mia Stallard, Jeremy Owen, Jeffrey Tambor, David House, Jennifer Granger, Nelson Ascencio, Bobby Lee
Curator Review
Verdict
A breezy, affectionate sci-fi road comedy with strong chemistry between Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, plus a few very funny supporting turns. It’s more amiable than inspired, and the jokes can feel broad or uneven, but the movie’s warmth, pop-culture playfulness, and easygoing pace make it an enjoyable watch for the right mood.
Best for
fans of buddy comedies
viewers who like light sci-fi with stoner humor
people who enjoy Simon Pegg and Nick Frost's screen chemistry
fans of road-trip ensemble comedies
audiences looking for an easy, low-stakes watch
Skip if
you want sharp, tightly constructed comedy
you dislike crude or weed-adjacent humor
you prefer serious or suspenseful alien stories
you want the energy and precision of Edgar Wright-style filmmaking
Overview
Paul is built on a simple pleasure: two lovable nerds stumbling through an alien encounter that keeps getting sillier and more affectionate. The movie’s biggest asset is the central pairing, which gives the whole thing a hangout-movie looseness even when the plotting is thin. Seth Rogen’s voice performance adds a laid-back, wisecracking edge that keeps the alien from feeling like a generic effects gag.
Worth noting
The film works best when it leans into road-trip camaraderie, genre in-jokes, and the contrast between small-town Americana and absurd extraterrestrial chaos. It also gets mileage from its supporting cast, who help the movie feel like a comic ensemble rather than just a two-hander. The tone is friendly and nostalgic, with enough fan-service energy to keep genre fans engaged.
Bottom line
That said, the humor is inconsistent, and some of the raunchier material lands more like filler than punchline. It’s an easy recommendation if you’re in the mood for something relaxed and playful, but less so if you’re expecting the sharper wit or formal snap of the best modern sci-fi comedies.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Fernando Pelaez Rovalo (3★) · 3577 likes
Does Edgar Wright know Simon Pegg and Nick Frost did a movie without him?
Framesofnick (2.5★) · 2018 likes
I watched this super fucking high and all I have to say is Sigourney weaver hot
adambolt (3.5★) · 1480 likes
there is no evidence to suggest that the entire race of aliens do not all also sound like seth rogan