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Paul

Paul

Adventure · Comedy · Science Fiction · 2011

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.

Movie details

Paul

“Who's up for a close encounter?”

2011 Adventure · Comedy · Science Fiction 1h 44m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.8 / 10

Community rating

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.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Paul?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Where it lives

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Greg Mottola

Written by

Nick Frost · Simon Pegg

Simon Pegg

Simon Pegg

Graeme Willy

Nick Frost

Nick Frost

Clive Gollings

Seth Rogen

Seth Rogen

Paul (voice)

Jason Bateman

Jason Bateman

Agent Zoil

Kristen Wiig

Kristen Wiig

Ruth Buggs

Bill Hader

Bill Hader

Haggard

Blythe Danner

Blythe Danner

Tara Walton

Court is in session

Put Paul on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Adrenaline Seeker

“It owes the canon nothing.”

The movie pursues immediacy and audience pleasure without begging institutions to certify its worth.

The prosecution The Auteur Devotee

“Easy pleasure, short half-life.”

It moves efficiently through the moment but offers little reason to keep arguing once the credits end.