MOVIE REVIEW - Paul

R-rated comedies are really picking up steam economically at the theaters the past few years.

In fact, you may be hard pressed to find one not rated R these days that wouldn't be considered a kids movie. Paul is not a kids movie at all, as it is aptly rated R. This is just a cautionary word to parents. Even though your small kids may want to go to this movie, you will be glad later that you didn't give in. This is just more proof positive that most comedies today are targeted at young guys, and they will flock to this one.

Paul is the story of these two British Sci- Fi Geeks that come to America on "holiday", to attend a space and Sci-Fi convention. They decide then to rent an RV and travel through the southwest and explore the famed Area-51. There the meet a wise-cracking, foul mouthed fun loving honest to gosh space alien, Paul. They take Paul in and go on a wild adventure picking up more non-believers along the way. Suddenly the government is after them, so is the law and so are some other kooks that want to capture Paul. That in a nutshell is Paul.

First, Paul is an immensely imaginative script, riddled with heavy satire on space geeks, and the whole sci-fi world. It's also a very strong parody on past science fiction movies, and the comic book culture with some funny twists and turns and some very funny moments. Much of the satirical humor will be lost with those under 40. The majority of this humor is ripped right out of the 1970's, as are most of the musical selections in this movie.

Paul although fun, is highly adult. Constant use of really offensive language, from all characters. And trust me, it's not your normal bad language. There are also numerous references to highly emotionally charged subjects, that are certainly not child appropriate. But like it or not, this is the movie making comedy climate were in right now. This is the norm, and we've become somewhat deaf to it. There is also a lot of low-brow humor here that doesn't make Paul a better movie, just a more rated - R one.

Starring Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Kristin Wiig, Jason Bateman, Jayne Lynch, Seth Rogan and the voice of the animated character Paul, and a ton of funny cameo's there was no shortage of stars lining up to be in this one. This movie is pretty darn funny for much of the 90 minutes. This is one of those flicks you have to put your, " uptightedness" away, and go laugh at what it is. This is not your fathers comedy. We are in a new day in Hollywood, and although this kind of thing does not work in all comedies, overall it works here.

Paul, not award winning. Not Oscar-worthy. But for a fun time, there is a certain charm here that makes this crude piece a bit easier to take. And just laugh at.