Paul

Greg Mottola – 2011 – USA

Ostensibly heartwarming buddy comedy about two British sci-fi geeks (Simon Pegg and Nick Frost of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz fame) meeting a real CGI alien near Area 51 named Paul (voiced by Seth Rogan) and helping him evade capture by sinister government agents (led by Jason Bateman).  Lots of good gags and even more lame ones, including a recurring fainting routine that’s not funny any of the three or four times it happens.  Uncomfortably mixes smartass attitude with clockwork emotional triggers that are meant to tug the heart strings.  Naturally, people with any religious leanings are portrayed as bigoted simpletons, even though the film presents with all seriousness the notion that a being from the heavens can indeed descend amongst us with magical healing powers.  The inside jokes and endless sci-fi movie references are mildly cute at first but feel pretty forced long before the climax.