Paul - Post Release Discussion - Page 2

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Originally Posted by Ken Savage 

I disagree, I think this movie proves that Frost and Pegg can stand on their own two feet well enough.

Oh don't get me wrong, their chemistry is undeniable at this point. They're great. I just feel they work better with Wright.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nexus-7 

Oh don't get me wrong, their chemistry is undeniable at this point. They're great. I just feel they work better with Wright.
 

 

Yeah, I kept on waiting for the zip and energy you get with Wright throughout its running time. Without it, the movie just felt amiable but not very memorable.

Amiable.  Charming.  Rough around the edges. 

Pretty much agree with the way most people have described Paul.  I really enjoyed myself.  In this case, I didn't mind that the movie never felt like it was in much of a rush.  I liked the characters and their detours.

I agree that Pegg & Frost really seem to let the supporting cast shine throughout the movie.  The main duo is just kinda... there.  Wiig was great.  I was surprised with the way Hader developed.  I liked the Jason Bateman reveal, but thought it could've been handled better.

I was also surprised by how little Rogen's voice got in the way of Paul's character.  The fx for him were fantastic.  He's no Davy Jones... but he's such an appealing character in terms of performance that he didn't need to be.

I suddenly feel like watching MacGruber now.

I don't get TV, what are they showing/giving away?

After reading many of the "meh" reviews, I was worried when I went to see it.  I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the movie, and was glad I didn't let the reviews sway me from going to see it.  There seemed to be a little extra something missing without Edgar Wright in there, but I still really liked the movie.

I was the running commentary on the movie references for my wife and niece.  I'd laugh extra hard at something, and they'd both turn and ask me, "What is that from?"  I want to see it again, but will probably wait for DVD.  My favorite obscure reference?  Calling Bill Hader's character a "butthorn"--that was what Gary Busey called every bad guy in the movie "Bulletproof".

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barkatthemoon 

They're showing Paul in the door of a spaceship saying goodbye as it's lifting off.

I'm guessing this is the end of the movie, or at least a really big reveal.

Honestly, I'm more upset that they spoiled that joke, which is one of the last big laughs of the movie.

I think my last laugh came from Jeffrey Tambour's exasperated "Ok, well, fuck." when that lady was signaling for him to wrap it up. Don't know why, but it gives me the giggles every time I think about it. 

Just saw this.  Liked it quite a bit but didn't love it.  The Capturing the Freidmans reference had me howling, though.

I kinda recall a Capturing the Friedmans reference... could you remind me of what it was?

I think it's when Paul is dressed as a cowboy and Nick Frost is like, we look like a regular family, and Paul says, yeah, just like the Friedmans! Something LIKE that, I probably have it screwed up.

Oh yeah!  Hahahaha, that sounds right.  

On the topic of Capturing the Friedmans... I've always wanted a soundtrack of that film to be released.  It was composed by Spawn of Morricone!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gabe T 

I half-expected this movie to be unfunny. I half-expected this movie to pile on the dumb geek-service gags, and to take a beat to explain/illustrate them for the cheap seats. I did NOT expect this to be such a genuinely DUMB movie. Or BORING. It's a chase movie where people move from A to B to C and to D, and everyone follows suit without any variation of pursuit or suspense. And Pegg and Frost, and their interplay, are genuinely the least interesting people in the movie. This feels like a leftfield misfire; I kinda don't get how much this movie doesn't work.

I agree with this. Paul is being chased (And by only three government guys? I suppose they wanted to keep it low-key, but BULLSHIT) by people that want to dissect them, and there is no urgency in his plight until the script dictates that they need to pick up the pace. Seth Rogen was the best part and even I was starting to get annoyed by him(I find his laugh really grating and I LIKE Seth Rogen) and his chill stoner attitude.  And they keep STOPPING, sometimes for no reason. There were times I wanted them caught just for being dumb.  It's kind of funny that Superbad, which was not an action comedy chase movie, was more kinetic and exciting and funnier than this. This could have been pretty easily a Superbad sequel, actually.  It's a shame too, this is the first Motolla movie I really don't like. A lot of the geek references came dangerously close to Family Guy style "It's funny because it came from something nerdy and popular and you remember it from that!" I groaned at "Get away from her, YOU BITCH." Did laugh at the reference towards BTTF though.

The Paul effects were great though, especially his eyes.

This is coming out this week in Oz. Genuinely heartened to hear people's reactions to it; am a major, major Pegg/Frost fan and was getting worried there that they'd screwed this one up. Can't wait.

Finally saw it this past weekend, and lowered expectations helped: I was never bored, laughed quite a bit, liked the characters, and found it agreeable-- but both Shaun and Hot Fuzz are essential. The story arcs either didn't work particularly well or were nonexistent (as others have posted, after the initial shock, Clive and Graeme show absolutely no curiosity regarding Paul's planet, background, etc., until he just dumps it all into them), but I enjoyed the ride.

Part of the film's problem is that the relatively small cast is wholly in support of Paul, and while Wiig (who's really good, given the repetitiveness of the role) and the others do their best, put them up against the Murderer's Row of supporting talent in Hot Fuzz or Shaun and it's simply no contest.

I think my favorite reference was the callback to Argyle's punch in "Die Hard."

Caught this at the weekend - enjoyed the hell out of it. True, it doesn't have the gag hit-rate as the Pegg/Frost/Wright stuff but it's bursting with charm and Rogen is surprisingly great. In a way it reminded me of a classic caper movie in that everyone's clearly having too much fun for you to worry about weaknesses in the script. Even if the script was a masterpiece, it still would've failed if geek culture was approached falsely or patronizingly, but Pegg and Frost's love for it shines through at every turn. They're pretty much THE guys you'd want to portray geekdom in a film, and they nail it as expected.

Went into it wanting to love it and didn't. Loved Shaun and Fuzz so I was ready for Part 3 of Pegg/Frost but the references got to be too much.

Appreciate the attempt but the execution was terrible. Also Pegg's hairstyle was hilariously terrible. I'm sure someone will say thats what it was supposed to be (80's and all) but it bothered me.

So much talent on display in this movie. Expected more laughs with Bateman and Hader.

Disappointing.

I totally forgot Wiig was in this. I had a Paul/Bridesmaids double feature, so I'd really be all Wigged out if she wasn't great in both.

I watched the "unrated" version on the blu-ray, not sure what was added, but it was a little long for my taste. For the most part it's a blast, and just a big hug to the geek community. They really made Paul out to be a one-note, stoner asshole in the marketing. I was suprised to see the depth and emotion the little guy had.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barkatthemoon 

I totally forgot Wiig was in this. I had a Paul/Bridesmaids double feature, so I'd really be all Wigged out if she wasn't great in both.

 

I watched the "unrated" version on the blu-ray, not sure what was added, but it was a little long for my taste. For the most part it's a blast, and just a big hug to the geek community. They really made Paul out to be a one-note, stoner asshole in the marketing. I was suprised to see the depth and emotion the little guy had.

I agree I liked that WAY more than I thought I would. Funny and pretty sweet.

The only difference between the 'unrated' version and the theatrical is the gag with the orcs and the valet right before Clive and Graeme drive off.

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Originally Posted by Hammerhead 

Add me to the reluctant 'meh' group. I got the feeling Pegg and Frost knew they'd only get one shot at making a movie like this and just threw everything in.

 

The narrative's a jumble: the Comic Con opening doesn't set up anything storywise aside from the sword and the Jeffrey Tambor character; the whole business of Wiig's crisis of faith should have been its own movie; the big reveal on the Bateman character is far too abrupt, as is his flunkies' switch from goofs to villains. Meanwhile, the subplot with the angry redneck hunters is left to dangle far too long before suddenly being resolved halfway through the film. Great care is taken to impress us, the audience, that the boy at the comic store is named Keith, but to no apparent end. And while it's great to see Blythe Danner in something that isn't Meet the Parents, she's playing a role that was obviously, OBVIOUSLY written for Melinda Dillon and no one else.

 

And really, at no point does anyone want to ask Paul where he came from? Presumably our three heroes have no further questions (or curiosity) after Paul mind-melds them, but that shuts the rest of us out.

 

I realize this seems nitpicky and, from a geek standpoint, ungrateful. I also recall having a similarly critical reaction to Galaxy Quest the first time I saw it so maybe this is another instance where I need to back off and just (re)watch the movie as its own thing. But for today... meh.

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Originally Posted by Nexus-7 

I thought this was going to be a kid's movie initially. and it feels like it still could have been(at the script stage, anyway). Good, harmless and fun, but nothing really knocked my socks off. I enjoyed myself. Pleasantly surprised by Rogen, a bit let down by some of the obvious gags/references(the Aliens line, the one Patrick mentioned), while others worked pretty well(loved the Cantina song, for instance). Wright proved he doesn't need Pegg and Frost with Scott Pilgrim, and they proved they didn't need him with Paul, but at the same time they are a match made in heaven and want to see them work together asap. 

 

I am usually pretty good with recognizing voices but had no idea that was Sigourney Weaver prior to her showing up. I also had no idea that Pegg and Frost wrote this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcnooj82 

Amiable.  Charming.  Rough around the edges. 

 

Pretty much agree with the way most people have described Paul.  I really enjoyed myself.  In this case, I didn't mind that the movie never felt like it was in much of a rush.  I liked the characters and their detours.

 

I agree that Pegg & Frost really seem to let the supporting cast shine throughout the movie.  The main duo is just kinda... there.  Wiig was great.  I was surprised with the way Hader developed.  I liked the Jason Bateman reveal, but thought it could've been handled better.

 

I was also surprised by how little Rogen's voice got in the way of Paul's character.  The fx for him were fantastic.  He's no Davy Jones... but he's such an appealing character in terms of performance that he didn't need to be.

 

I suddenly feel like watching MacGruber now.

I had a similar response to above posters, but came away liking it ultimately. Pegg's hair was terrible, Wiig was funny and adorable, and the supporting cast stole the show from Pegg and Frost (they were generous writers, giving the best material to the others). I  liked the supplemental BTS special features on the Blu and I think watching those  made me appreciate the flick even more (the roadtrip Simon and Nick took before writing, the camaraderie in the cast, etc). I actually wasn't expecting the humor to be so adult. I haven't seen the trailer in so long and finally caught this on home vid. Glad I checked the rating before not showing it to my daughter. Not as good as FUZZ or SHAUN, but really, what is?