Paul

Way back in 2004, audiences were introduced to Simon Pegg and Nick Frost in 2004's Shaun of the Dead. The comedy duo worked with director Edgar Wright again in Hot Fuzz and World's End, the trio's odd, smart sense of humor resonating with audiences. Pegg and Frost branched out in 2011, starring in Paul, a movie any science fiction fan will get a kick out of.

Lifelong friends with a love of science fiction, Graeme Willy (Pegg) and Clive Gollings (Frost) have traveled from England to San Diego for Comic-Con. That's not all for the trip though, the friends renting an RV and planning a trip across the southwest, hitting all sorts of extraterrestrial spots like Area 51 and Roswell. The trip goes pretty much as planned....at first. One night driving along, the RV crashes and when they get out to investigate, Graeme and Clive are stunned at what they find. An alien is standing in front of them, and he speaks English quite clearly (and with some attitude). The alien's name? Paul (voiced by Seth Rogen), and he's on the run from government agents. Paul has escaped from the facility he's been held at, and he intends to go home to his own planet. He bonds immediately with nerdy Graeme and Clive, but he needs their help. Will his two new friends help him get away and get to his spaceship?

I really do try to be honest with my reviews so here goes. When I saw the trailer for this sci-fi comedy a few years back, I thought it looked dumb. No, that's not enough. D-U-M-B. I avoided it the last couple years, finally caving and getting it on Netflix. The cast proved to be quite the motivating factor in the end! Well, as is so often the case, my complete refusal to listen to the "Don't judge a book by its cover" premise ended up being very, very wrong. I liked this movie from director Greg Mottola (Superbad, Adventureland). A lot. It was funny, surprisingly smart, and pretty sweet in the end -- with some dark, stupid humor mixed in for good measure. Yeah, the pretty deep, very talented cast helps, but there's more to it than that. With Pegg and Frost writing the script, you know you're getting a good final product.

The acting/writing duo actually came up with the idea for 'Paul' when they were filming Shaun of the Dead, and then it was just a matter of time until they could make it. The elements that worked in 'Shaun,' 'Fuzz' and 'World's' all translate here in an easy-going, natural chemistry. It never feels like Pegg and Frost are acting. This plays out like two old friends who know everything about each other -- some think they're gay, much to their surprise -- and are enjoying a vacation they've long talked about. Then throw in Rogen (who's excellent), and we've got quite the trio of characters. An alien who's been on Earth since the late 1940s, Paul is a great character. He's picked up all sorts of human touches from personal interactions to his often dirty conversations. Rogen even provided the motion capture movements for Paul, adding an oddly appropriate slacker look to the alien's actions. I loved the dynamic among the three, that chemistry providing the best laughs and carrying things throughout the 104-minute movie.

As a movie nerd, it was cool to watch this one develop. Pegg and Frost have said in countless interviews this movie was intended as a tribute of sorts to all the science fiction movies they love. It's a tribute to all those great science fiction movies from the 1970s and 1980s. By my count, I saw scenes with nods to Close Encounters, E.T. (obviously), Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Star Trek, Back to the Future and probably countless others I'm forgetting. The ending especially gives a big old nod to Close Encounters and E.T., a pretty cool ending overall. Even director Steven Spielberg makes a voice cameo, Paul serving as his unofficial "technical adviser" as he makes E.T. back in the early 1980s. And in a quick but essential cameo, sci-fi icon and Alien star Sigourney Weaver makes a fun appearance late. Science fiction fans will definitely get a kick out of this one.

There's more to that pretty cool cast that's worth mentioning. Jason Bateman has some fun as Agent Zoil (a kinda-sorta Men in Black), a government agent in pursuit and trying to bring Paul back. Bateman looks to be having a lot of fun in the tough guy part and with a good twist late. He's got two bumbling, inexperienced agents working with him, played nicely by Bill Hader and Joe Lo Truglio. Kristen Wiig puts a fun spin on the love interest, a woman who was raised highly religiously and is beginning to think she's got it all wrong. Her rookie attempts at swearing and cursing are especially good.There's also fun parts for Jane Lynch, David Koechner, Jeffrey Tambor, Blythe Danner, John Carroll Lynch and Jesse Plemons.

If you read some reviews about 'Paul,' you'll no doubt fall into quite the religious quagmire. The script from Pegg and Frost takes some digs at religious folks, those who believe what they believe even if evidence is presented that directly counters what they believe. I lean toward the non-believers side so I wasn't offended, but it's easy to see why some resented this movie's message. The religious characters are loony, crazy, off-the-wall individuals. As well, the action gets ratcheted up to some crazy levels over the last 30 minutes, goofy and over the top but never too much. A very pleasant surprise from beginning to end. Highly recommended.

Paul (2011): ***/****

Wreck-It Ralph

With 1995's Toy Story, animated movies were rewritten on several different levels. The computer animation revolutionized the genre, Pixar becoming a huge studio in the years since. On a simpler level, it took something we've all thought of growing up -- your toys coming to life when you're not there -- and ran with it. Almost 20 years later, another cool premise with a twist, video games, is brought to life with 2012's Wreck-It Ralph.

For 30 years at Litwik's Arcade, the game Fix-It Felix, Jr. has been a mainstay, a popular game for countless fans. At night though when the arcade is closed, the games and their characters are left on their own, all of them allowed to travel from one game to another through the power cables. The villain in Fix-It, Wreck-It Ralph (John C. Reilly), has had enough though, deciding 30 years is enough of being a villain while Fix-It Felix (Jack McBrayer) is honored as a hero on a nightly basis. One night, Ralph leaves the game through the power lines, hoping to become a hero (and earn a medal in the process) so he can prove everyone wrong. Ralph doesn't know what he's getting into, traveling from first-person shooter games to kart-racing games, but the old stand-by, Fix-It Felix Jr., could be in trouble if Ralph doesn't return in time.

In the same way Toy Story appeals to me, so does this Disney animated film from director Rich Moore (who also lends his voice talent to a couple characters). While the execution is there from beginning to end in the 108-minute movie, above all else, it's the idea, the premise that works so well. The thought of beloved video game characters, of dastardly villains, having this separate life apart from their video game is a thing of brilliance. As we play their games, this is their job, their day-to-day, 9-to-5 gig. When the arcade is closed, that's closing time. The power lines and outlets serve as a video game subway, the good guys and bad guys traveling wherever they so choose at night. The visual appeal is there -- from the sugar-coated kart-racing game to the dark, apocalyptic first-person shooter -- but it is that brilliantly innovative story that is most effective.

I'll also say that this is a movie that has a genuine appreciation and love for its subject matter. Wreck-It Ralph is clearly patterned after the original Donkey Kong, an early 1980s platform game that's since morphed and transitioned countless times, Ralph molded like Donkey Kong. It's cool to see all the video games living in one world, from the old platform games to the shoot 'em up action games, the racing games to the new wave of dance platforms (the end credits are especially cool in that department, Ralph working his way across countless video game worlds). There's some great moments early, including Ralph showing up to a Villains Support Meeting, the whole group working to get through their years of getting beaten down as villains. Their best line? "Just because you're a bad guy doesn't mean you're a bad guy." We meet all sorts of iconic video game characters -- check them out HERE -- with some other nice little touches, from glitches to how characters move in almost robotic fashion as their characters would. Clearly fans of video games were behind this flick, and it doesn't hurt if you're a fan too.

One of my favorite comedic actors, John C. Reilly nails the part of Wreck-It Ralph. He's made a career out of smashing a high-rise building only to have McBrayer's Fix-It Felix swoop in and save the day, and he's had about enough. All he wants to do is save the day, be the good guy, be the hero. Reilly's voice translates well to the part, and the visual doesn't hurt, an immense physical stature with his red overalls, his wild hair, and his rather large wrecking hands. It's quite the character, a great lead. The best development for Ralph comes when he meets Vanellope von Schweetz, a young girl and racer in the kart-racing game Sugar Rush. Sarah Silverman lends her voice talents to Vanellope, putting her usually pretty harsh sense of humor on hold. Vanellope is an outcast in her game, a glitch who threatens to shut the game down if fans want nothing to do with her. The duo forms an unlikely friendship/partnership, Reilly and Silverman doing an excellent job.

I liked the rest of the cast, but there aren't a ton of recognizable voices here. McBrayer is excellent as Fix-It Felix Jr. -- a gentle takeoff on Mario I think -- who's naive and clueless but in a sweet way. At one point as he tries to help a situation, "Why can I only fix things?!?" Playing Calhoun, the hard-edged female squad commander in Heroes Duty (first person shooter vs. aliens), Jane Lynch does a good job as a hero with the darkest backstory ever. Alan Tudyk plays King Candy, the ruler of Sugar Rush. Also listen for Mindy Kaling, Dennis Haysbert, Joe Lo Truglio and Ed O'Neill as Mr. Litwak, the longtime owner of his expansive arcade.

A fun movie with a very cool premise. The message for the kids never gets to be too heavy or too obvious. I look forward to where Wreck-It Ralph might go in a sequel. Moore has said it might aim at online and console gaming but that's for later. For now, just enjoy the original!

Wreck-It Ralph (2012): ***/****

Role Models

As much as I like movies, I find myself actually going to theaters less and less.  It could have to do with the $20 popcorn/pop combo, but the $11 ticket sure doesn't help.  If I do go to movies, I typically prefer action, drama, epics, thrillers while usually avoiding comedies.  It's always seemed like a waste to me to spend that much money on a 90-minute movie, and then if that comedy isn't funny, we're now 0-for-2.  One that I thought looked good but never got around to seeing, 2008's Role Models, I caught up with on Netflix.

Much of the talent working on Role Models came from a 90s cult TV show called The State, a group that has worked together countless times since.  Watch Reno 911 and you'll see just about everyone from the cast working together again with this comedy.  But that's the problem.  There isn't a ton of comedy.  It's a good movie, an enjoyable flick if nothing else, but it goes long stretches without actually producing any laughs.  The cast is beyond talented, and the finale is pretty crazy, but I only came away liking the movie, not loving it.

A 10-year employee of Minotaur energy drink, 35-year old Danny (Paul Rudd) is having a mid-life crisis and on an epically bad day gets arrested with co-worker Wheeler (Seann William Scott) for a long list of felonies and crimes -- mostly minor ones that together add up.  To avoid jail time, the two have to do 150 hours of community service at Sturdy Wings, an organization that pairs adults with little kids who need mentoring (think Big Brothers and Sisters).  Neither is too enthused about the job, even more so when they meet their kids.  Danny gets Augie (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), a teenager who is heavily involved in live action medieval/fantasy role-playing while Wheeler gets Ronnie (Bobb'e J. Thompson), a foul-mouthed boy who goes through "mentors" as quick as they're introduced.  

The basis for the community service is ripe for the picking, and in terms of the relationships the story develops between the 'Bigs' and 'Littles' as Sturdy Wings call them, the movie is a winner.  Danny and Augie find out both of them were forced to do this -- Danny by the judge and Augie by his mom (Kerri Kenney) and stepdad (Ken Marino) -- while Wheeler realizes Ronnie is just looking for a friend and ends up being honest with him, including THIS SCENE where they bond over their love of the female anatomy.  This also comes courtesy of a bonding montage set to an ELO song. But for the most part, these scenes produce a chuckle here and there, but they're never hilarious, side-splitting laughs that the previews made this movie look like it was full of.

I've always been a big Paul Rudd fun, but for most of the first half or so he seems to be sleepwalking.  Granted, the character kinda demands it, but he's not that funny either.  His character is depressed, and doesn't have the same energy that his characters usually do like Knocked Up, Anchorman, or Wet, Hot American Summer.  William Scott is the scene-stealer as Wheeler, a dude who loves what he does -- posing as a Minotaur mascot in energy drink presentations -- and ends up becoming a big brother/father figure to Ronnie.  Their early scenes trying to convince kids not to do drugs -- drink Minotaur instead! -- are perfect, especially with Wheeler decked out in a furry mascot costume. Both Mintz-Plasse (of Superbad fame) and Thompson are hilarious and show that kid actors can be as funny as their adult counterparts.

Some other worthwhile supporting players include Jane Lynch as Gayle Sweeney, the former drug addict alcoholic now running Sturdy Wings, a woman who has quite the nose for sniffing out BS when it's presented, and easy on the eyes Elizabeth Banks as Beth, Danny's recent ex and lawyer.  The whole breaking up subplot with Danny and Beth does drag though and takes away from the much-stronger parts of the movie.  Also look for Joe Lo Truglio as Kuzzik, a fellow medieval/fantasy member who speaks as if he was a knight from the Middle Ages.  The finale as the Medieval Battle Royale is priceless as Danny, Wheeler, Augie and Ronnie - dressed as members of Kiss -- do battle for victory.

Not a ton to say about this comedy.  I really liked parts of it, and others fell flat.  It is a funny movie because of the talent involved with the cast and crew, but it as if at a certain point they forgot to put more jokes or one-liners into the movie.  Worth watching, but probably not a rewatch.

Role Models <----trailer (2008): ** 1/2 /****