Film Review: Paul

While I was sure it would be an enjoyable enough film, I just couldn't bring myself to watch 'Paul' when it was released early in 2011. Put it down the repeated adverts in the cinema - Odeon had an advert promoting their points card that featured 'Paul' for months before it came out, and it was in front of every single film that was released. When you visit the cinema frequently, you get bored of seeing the same old thing.

Another factor was Simon Pegg's incessant (and bordering on the annoying) posts on Twitter, promoting the film. I know most actors use Twitter for exactly those means, advertising a film, but it really got on my nerves, as well as when 'Burke And Hare' was released on DVD, he didn't even mention it. Not saying that was a great film, but it just seemed all a little strange. I guess once one film is in your rear mirror, it gets forgotten, especially when it didn't do too well!

But, I finally put it on, and as I thought I would, thoroughly enjoyed it. Time heals all advertising-related wounds, I guess you could say.

Pegg and Nick Frost play Graeme (Pegg) and Clive (Frost), two friends who, after visiting the San Diego Comic Con, go on a UFO road trip and encounter an alien (the titular Paul, voiced by Seth Rogen), who needs their help to return home, as a relentless government agent (Jason Bateman) trails them.

The whole film is an absolute blast, and features a who's who of American comedy. The only film that will top this for comedic actors will be when the 'Arrested Development' movie comes out. I mean just look at the names involved, the aforementioned Bateman, his 'AD' co-star Jeffrey Tambor, Jane Lynch, David Koechener, Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, the list goes on.

Wiig is particularly good value (as she normally is, to be honest) as Ruth, the love interest for Graeme in film. And that romantic story line is one of the several sweet (albeit foul-mouthed) moments in the film, this is something with a big heart to it as well as laughs.

Rogen is also great as the voice of the alien. So great in fact, it's probably one of my favourite performances by him that I've seen! And Jason Bateman plays the straight man well, constantly hassled by orders from his boss (whom I won't reveal actress wise, just in case you don't know.)

As you'd probably expect from Pegg and Frost, there are tons of in-jokes and references from other films, from the stand out obvious (a rather blatant visual gag to 'Close Encounters Of The Third Kind') to the subtler (note the name of the bar about halfway through the film, and what the band are playing), and countless other nods to everything from Star Wars to The Blues Brothers.

An obvious couple of comparison points for 'Paul' would be 'Shaun Of The Dead' and 'Hot Fuzz', and while this could easily have been the third in that particular 'Cornetto Trilogy', this is directed by Gregg Mottola (Superbad, and the upcoming Aaron Sorkin HBO pilot), and it's a great match. And just because there is no Edgar Wright, you don't need to worry this is up there with the 'Shaun' and 'Hot Fuzz', not the likes of the dreadful 'Run Fatboy Run'...

Obviously, with all the reference points to other films, 'Paul' isn't exactly original. It is your typical road movie, with a E.T. style alien assisting twist, but nevertheless it's just a fun 99 minutes which you really shouldn't take too seriously.

****
Nothing original story-wise, but a fantastic comedic cast and some real heart make 'Paul' a must watch. If you also got sick of it before ever seeing it - now 's the time to come in from the cold!

Film Review: Fast And Furious 5 (Fast Five)

It's fair to say I haven't exactly been a massive fan of the Fast And (The) Furious franchise. I didn't really mind the first one, saw a bit of the second one (the ridiculously titled '2 Fast 2 Furious'), and never bothered with the others. It seems the films have had their ups and downs with it's main stars Vin Diesel and Paul Walker both leaving at various points, only to both return in 2009's 4th installment  'Fast & Furious' (not to be mistaken with the original, 'The Fast And The Furious.)

Both Walker and Diesel return for Fast Five, which was given the hideously clunky title 'Fast And Furious 5: Rio Heist' upon it's release in the UK. Couldn't see anything wrong with the title 'Fast Five' myself, it's not as if people are going to get confused when they see the two leads on a poster, there's precious little else that they are in.

The film is given a further burst of testosterone with the casting of Dwayne Johnson as Federal Agent Luke Hobbs, who is given the task of bringing in Dominic Toretto (Diesel) and Brian O' Conner (Walker), as well as Toretto's sister Mia (fellow 'Fast' original Jordanna Brewster) after a daring prison transport break.

As these things tend to go, the fugitives need to do 'one last job' so they can escape forever, but robbing an evil drug lord (Joaquim de Almeida, totally underused) is going to be even harder than it sounds.

Nothing about the film is particularly original or surprising. In fact, most of it quite predictable. What isn't predictable, however is how much fun it all is. The action sequences are fantastic, from the opening 'jailbreak' to the climatic chase through the streets of Rio, these are probably the best you'll see this year. Jaw droppingly good in places.

Also brilliant was the masterstroke to add Dwayne Johnson to the cast. Hobbs is the quintessential movie hardcase, spouting macho dialogue every scene he's in, and just pounding the crap out of anyone that crosses his path (at one point he actually does a throat rip, in a 12 certificate movie - that must be a first), and of course this all leads to a fantastic fight scene between Hobbs and Toretto, which should have gone on much longer (and it wasn't a short fight either!)

Another plus for me was scaling back the 'car porn' of the first film. While there is still plenty of the "Look at this car...now look at THIS car" stuff going on, it's very much more an action film. In comparison, it's like when the Best Of The Best films stopped being about martial arts competitions and turned into actioners, but with better results.

The film is reminiscent in places of an 80s action film. Minimal plot, very stupid (and believe me, I mean very stupid) and with huge action sequences, but where the similarities end is the main problem with the film, and the same problem which hampered my enjoyment of the first one. And Pitch Black. And Running Scared. I think you may see where I'm going with this...

I've always found Vin Diesel and Paul Walker to be severely lacking in the charisma department, and most of the time their acting (although not exactly a priority in this kind of film) is wooden to put it mildly. Putting them on screen with Johnson, probably the most naturally charismatic action stars in years really shows how tiresome they can be. During car chases and fight scenes, obviously this is fine. But their presence seems to dullen all the parts in between.

But there's not much that can be done about that, they are the stars of the show, and no doubt will be when the 6th chapter hits cinemas in 2013 (and if you stay after the first batch of credits, you'll have a nice tease for that), but at the end of the day for a film that isn't just a sequel, but a 4th sequel to be as entertaining as Fast Five, that's good work indeed.

***1/5
Big, dumb, OTT stuff, and great fun. Possibly the most fun of all the 'Fast...' movies. Dwayne Johnson is brilliant and deserves a spin-off, but the bland combo of Diesel and Walker drags things down a bit. If you're looking for a stupid action film, look no further.