The Reel Rejects - PAUL (2011) IS HYSTERICAL! MOVIE REVIEW! First Time Watching

Starting point is 00:00:00 Thank you to Hewle and Shopify for sponsoring this video. More on them in just a bit. Let's do it. Let's get into Paul. Oh, Paul commence. Anyways, if you guys did enjoy this on YouTube, special thanks to the fine folks over at Praper. They're the ones who made it all possible.

Starting point is 00:00:22 Repair. They're hard work. They work tirelessly, and we appreciate everything they do. Also, if you are listening on Apple or Spotify, make sure you give us five stars we would really appreciate Also, rejectnation shop.coms where you can get cool teas like these. We have

Starting point is 00:00:38 so many amazing stuff on there, Cheegs, Hall Hazard, so many different, hallway hazards. We got, yeah, we get so many different things. Go check out the site and go buy yourself or anyone you like in your life. Go get them some cool stuff. John, how are you feeling? Excuse me, John Bang, Humphrey.

Starting point is 00:00:57 How are you feeling after watching this? Flash, thank you so much, my friend. I really had a great time. This was a lot of fun. This was interesting to go back to because, yeah, I feel like I would have seen this once upon release, but there's so many. This is a dense movie, you know,

Starting point is 00:01:12 and there's a lot of stuff in terms of, yes, the references, but also just like how they write and concoct and structure out these stories and the jokes and stuff like that, especially, you know, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, if you look at, and I believe the Cornetto trilogy movies and stuff were written with Edgar Wright, and I think it was Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright may have written those.

Starting point is 00:01:34 Either way, they have a really tight sensibility in terms of, yeah, like setting things up and calling things back and, yeah, lacing it with, you know, a bunch of clear, loving nods to all the things this is drawing from in a way that, like, is sometimes obvious, but

Starting point is 00:01:50 isn't as kind of, I feel like sometimes in the present, you know, day, of, you know, nerd-based comedies and things like that, it's easy to place a reference where it is like, it's very obvious, and that's the point. It's, you know, it's, you know, we've seen certain movies referenced a billion trillion times,

Starting point is 00:02:11 and I thought the way that this kind of felt like, you know, the sort of revolving door of characters and IPs and things you would see at a Comic-Con, like it, just the way that this spoke nerdily, I thought was really charming and fun. And, yeah, like, as an adventure that what I didn't realize, too, is, like, you are kind of crashing two comedic crews together with this movie. You know, you're crashing together a lot of, like, the Apatow camp, you know, from this point in time with, you know, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost and this sort of, you know, unique sensibility that they have drawn out of these buddy comedies that are, you know, kind of, they have more oomph when it comes to the genre elements, the act. they're clearly like filmmaking nerds as well as comedy and sci-fi or horror or whatever it is nerds and so like yeah this it's like when this came out I feel like there was probably some sense of like oh this must feel like a cornetto movie or something like that and it does in ways and it doesn't in others but it still has that you know like that sort of very fun ryeness and the wit that those movies bring but also with

Starting point is 00:03:26 with some of the improvisational looseness. It's like this certainly had a level of that rhythm and, you know, the sort of just the pace and the, you know, I'm just going to go back to the word rhythm of the editing. I wanted another word, but yeah, just like the rhythm of the editing and stuff like that. Like it does have that snap and that punch, but there are times where you are just kind of hanging out and it is, you know, a little bit more, yeah, loose and again,

Starting point is 00:03:52 improv-based, quirky, you know, the characterization of certain, people is more, a little more broad, a little more heightened, a la like a Superbad or something like that, or a Pineapple Express, even, I think, which is also a Greg Matola movie, or is that, uh, I don't, you could be right, but I don't, your boy from Halloween. Is it, uh, David Gordon Green? I think it's David Gordon Green. Yeah. Um, so, yeah,

Starting point is 00:04:16 uh, this though, this was fun because, yeah, like, it's so rich with, you know, just like, cheeky nods and you know references to things but also there is a heartfeltness at the center of it and I like that again the ensemble they got people who are really game

Starting point is 00:04:34 who really could commit to character I liked the different flavors across the board of the characters coolest Jason Bateman and yeah like a lot of twists in turns like there's a lot happening and I appreciated that they put as much as they did into this you know there are

Starting point is 00:04:50 there are further things to talk about but yeah as of this viewing, I got a lot out of it and I had a lot of fun, you know. I feel like, you know, this this was an interesting prospect, you know, because they are coming into, again, that more Seth Rogen-y space that is a different comic sensibility.

Starting point is 00:05:06 But I think, while it may not quite reach some of my, the heights of some of my favorite, either Simon Pegg Nick Frost comedies or Apatow Camp comedies, this had a lot more qualities to it

Starting point is 00:05:21 returning than I was even expecting. So I had a great time overall. And yeah, I appreciated the heart. There are maybe a timer two here and there where I wish they would have leaned more into the heart. Yeah, I feel you. Because there were times where I feel like this chose to subvert either a serious moment.

Starting point is 00:05:41 There were times where they did that in ways that I liked and there were other times around like, man, you didn't need to throw in like a crude joke here or a swear word here or something like that. I think this could have really. really reached the highest heights if they had dialed the heart in a little more because what I really liked rediscovering was like, oh, there is a lot of heart. And this is a fun road movie. And like you do, you know, kind of get to experience. Yeah, this like guy, this alien

Starting point is 00:06:08 creature who's like pretty similar to us, but different in certain ways. And we can learn from each other and grow. And like, yeah, I liked the heart that it had. And I just would have loved a little bit of a tweak on some of the irreverence to heart ratio, because I think it had a lot of fun instances of both. A good example is like, you know, when the house blows up and Blythe

Starting point is 00:06:31 Blythe Danner is like, oh my weed, I'm like, okay, like, it's a joke, we can put a joke there, but at the same time, I'm like, I might have actually preferred this moment if we just saw the devastation in her face of her losing this place that has meant so much to her life

Starting point is 00:06:47 for better and worse, you know. I think a perfect example to that moment, just like, because it's so similar is like Thor Ragnarok when Asgard gets destroyed. It's like, nope, this can be rebuilt. And then the whole planet gets just right. Nope, nope, can't be rebuilt. Yeah. Yeah. It's like, it's, it's a, this is a very serious moment. Like, not the perfect time for a joke, even though it is funny. And this is a comedy. It's like I don't begrudge them that. Yeah, no, no, I'm sure. But I feel you. Yeah. There are times when some of the crudeness, I think, could be a barrier for people who would otherwise

Starting point is 00:07:20 love most of what this is doing. Right, right. But yeah, give me your feelings. No, I was, I just had, I mean, everyone knows that. I love making references. That's one of my favorite things. What? I know, right? I'm making breaking news here, but so I feel like this

Starting point is 00:07:38 movie was genuinely made for, like Simon Pegg and Nick Bruss said, okay, Andrew Flash Gordon, we are making this for you. Yes, I was going to say, missed off every reference comprehensively right now, but I mean, this like, it warmed my heart from that perspective, but actually, like, to your point, I really thought there was like maybe a time or two as well, and I'm not trying to like just agree to you to agree, but I do agree there was maybe a couple times where I wish they would have stuck with the heart, but

Starting point is 00:08:03 overall I did feel it was nicely balanced with the drama, with the comedy, and with the crude humor, the crude humor, and with the heart. It did have more heart than I felt because when I saw it was Greg McI mean obviously I do love adventure it's been a very long time since I saw Adventureland it's again it's since it maybe came out and I believe 2011 when I was working at uh I think I rent it would I can't remember uh and or 2009 excuse me is when it came out I think I got it when I was working at Hollywood video anyways point being is Greg Matolla understands heart so I was expecting and obviously I know he did super bad but I was expecting like straight up crude humor and

Starting point is 00:08:45 you know just comedy this whole entire time I didn't expect it to have the charm in the heart that it did have so that that surprised me and I thought for the most part it was pretty well balanced and I did love those I think some of my favorite moments in the film is like you know the bonding moments between

Starting point is 00:09:01 all that like when Paul was bonding with Nick Frost's character and then like the four of them even if they were like a little like just moments like that just I thought those moments were really unique like that's where I was really connecting with the characters the most. Yes, I love, I love parts where I was laughing, and obviously the

Starting point is 00:09:16 references, of course, those warn my little heart as well, but I think those are the moments I appreciate it. I agree with you that this is one of my favorite performances by Bateman. I really like how intimidating he could be, and you'd really feel the tension with his character when he was chased. It was kind of like the

Starting point is 00:09:32 Terminator, like the cat and mouse chase, you know, where he's coming after them, and then the twist and reveal in the end, like, no, the whole time, he's just trying to protect. And it plays to both of his, because the Jason in Bateman I feel like either plays like an asshole or like a friendly guy with no spine and I feel like you get to see him cool and he's like got guns and he's an agent and he's like his deadpan works perfect for that but also when the you know twist comes around that like oh no he's a buddy he's trying to help yeah believe the softer side that he shows there and I was a little confused too because at the end where he was like shooting I thought he just wanted credit for it so he could get the level five or whatever but it's like no in the end he was just trying to protect this friend the guy who or the alien excuse me that introduced him to his wife. I feel like this is one of those films when we've talked about this before that on repeat viewings you will see like those little hints and like this whole

Starting point is 00:10:21 time he's really trying to protect them. So like I'm looking forward to whenever I do rewatch this like noticing those little things of him just the entire time because he's like not talking with the agents. And like again if you're the first time viewing like well it's because he wants the credit and he and also he doesn't want them having the information because when he does catch them less is more in terms of like you don't want anyone to know about aliens just in general as well and he can tell that he's much more competent well yeah that that of course of course that too um but yeah uh i thought that wasn't i actually thought that twist really worked um and i thought that was again a jovial heartfelt moment i really enjoyed that um and then in

Starting point is 00:11:01 terms of characters i actually i i mean Simon peg and nick frost like i feel like that's us yeah you know the the comic nerds if you will um so but I enjoyed them going through this journey. Also, too, it really felt like they were kind of fish fishes out of water just because they're not in their home country. And they're really out of their depth. And also, they've got an alien. And so they're like literally, everything has to be improvised in the moment. So what I really felt is this made it feel like being British and traveling across America is like, you know, kind of dangerous. Yeah. No, no, no, of course. But I just, I like the idea, though, of them like being in a country

Starting point is 00:11:41 that I would assume they've, did they say in the movie that this was their first time at Comic-Con or did they say they've been, I don't remember. I feel like the first, yeah, when we meet them at the beginning, it's their first comic. Okay, it's the first one. Okay, well, either way, again, it's still a foreign

Starting point is 00:11:53 country to them, so they don't know, like, you know, and also they're traveling to places they've never been to before. So, again, they really are, you know, again, as I just mentioned, they are fishes out of water, and then also they've got an aliens, so what do you do in this situation? So they're in a, they're in quite a quarry,

Starting point is 00:12:10 and I thought it was like, again, I just love to, also, too, I like the inclusion of Kristen Wiggs character. I thought she was hysterical. I like how, again, obviously, due to the environment she grew up in, like, you know, religion and faith is like her whole, her whole life, basically. And obviously, once she gets a little time spent with Paul, obviously, you know, the curing of her eye and just in general, after he does the, the, whatever it is, where he's absolutely. the information in her head with the psych telekinesis or whatever like that gives her a new perspective on life and I found that

Starting point is 00:12:48 and I like the transformation of her character I thought that was really natural and organic and it was funny too the way seeing her a natural that was because she's never cussed in her life you know when you have that religious belief in life like there is no cussing one you're not really exposed to stuff that gives you the yeah

Starting point is 00:13:04 the guide book on how to do it right right right so but I did like that and also too I thought the visual effects team did an incredible job with Paul. At first, I wasn't in time, I mean, it thought was more played for laughs, just like, here's our fun little alien

Starting point is 00:13:20 design, but it took me a little bit of time to grow to appreciate the look, and then also seeing the reflections off of his eyes and the way he moves, and also, too, I just, I loved Paul's humor and his heartfeltness throughout the film and the way he

Starting point is 00:13:37 interact with the characters. Also, too, all the information he accrued, over his time here. Obviously, too. I love how they gave him, you know, naturally so give, you know, all the stuff with Spielberg. He gets credit for just aliens in general, but like E.T. and all that stuff. That was all fun banter. A lot of classic side. Yeah, for sure, for sure. But I really did grow to appreciate throughout the film that that visual effects look. Like, now it's going to be synonymous with me when I think about aliens. Obviously, I think about independency and other uh aliens alien well this is like a yeah like it at first you're like

Starting point is 00:14:12 oh interesting and then you realize like oh yeah they're doing your like classic gray you know your classic big-headed skinny body alien but yeah for sure and yeah just like i think that's kind of smart because yeah for a comedy that clearly had to put like they i appreciate that they put so much into the physical effects and you know these gags where you know you know you You've got Paul is invisible, and he's looking through stuff, and you've got combinations of CG and practical effects. But, yeah, like, the alien design himself is, yeah, I think classic pragmatically, but also it makes sense for what this is, you know, referentially speaking.

Starting point is 00:14:51 It's like quintessential, and it's also, I've got to imagine, a less complicated thing for the animators to deal with. So they can dial in on those textures and those, you know, elements of his physiology that are especially kind of striking. And, yeah, you come away going like, they got a budget for this. And like the action itself was pretty punchy, Jack. Oh yeah, no. The stunts

Starting point is 00:15:11 I thought with the car, the first crash we saw and then some of the other ones, I thought were great. And like I mentioned earlier in terms of the bonding, I thought those were my favorite moments, but even too, I like when Paul like actually had these intimate conversations with each character and like did something to elevate

Starting point is 00:15:27 something for all of them like to find something within themselves that whether they didn't believe it or not, like bettered them. And I appreciated those moments throughout the film. Yeah, he kind of helped people see and get to the root of either what's bothering them or, you know, what they should be embracing. And it's, yeah, it's stuff like that that lets the movie shine the most. For sure. And that, yeah, like, when he's talking to Nick Frost in the camper and he's like, you know, what's your beef, man?

Starting point is 00:15:50 And they, like, have that very honest feeling back and forth. Like, my favorite scenes. Yeah, it does really kind of, again, it reveals itself like, oh, this is like a bonding story about these two guys. And, like, they keep making this gay joke, which, you know, whatever. but at the same time it is like it is acknowledging that there is like a deep connection and love between these two guys even if it's not about romance

Starting point is 00:16:12 of course like they are affectionate with each other and they are very open and vulnerable with each other they're very comfortable with each other and they speak the same language and it is like kind of beautiful in that way and you know yeah like Graham finds uh you know love

Starting point is 00:16:28 in the Ruth character and you know we see Nick Frost with the swoony gie walk at the end and then Ruth is like talking to, like, you know, and that's kind of a fun comment on the fact that, like, especially, you know, convention life is certainly a bit of a, can be a bit of a cuddle pile by reputation, uh, which is fun. But yeah, like, there's a very sweet, endearing quality to just this story of two for it. And again, like it feels like an alt universe, Sean and Ed, or an alt universe, again, whatever. I feel like their names might even be Graham and Clive in space or

Starting point is 00:16:59 something like that. Um, in which one? Space is the TV show that, uh, I never saw that. Yeah, Edgar Wright, you know, is basically all the sort of Cornetto trilogy team that you're used to seeing. You know, they did a show called Spaced. Spaced, uh, his name, uh, Simon Pegg was Tim and Nick Ross was Mike. Okay, there you go. See, not Graham and Clive at all. But either way, this felt like characters very adjacent to ones we've seen them play, but with a sort of, the most grounded version.

Starting point is 00:17:32 You know, like Sean and Ed are a bit elevated, especially in that Ed is, you know, kind of off-putting, and he's, you know, a, you know, a bit of a, I don't know, he's like dealing drugs and stuff. Yeah, and then, you know, Tim and Mike are, you know, is like, Tim's a comic book illustrator, and Mike is like a military, you know, obsessed dude. Either way, this feels like the most down-to-earth version of a dynamic you've seen them play before. And I like that, I mean, I feel like at this time, too, we would have known like, oh, yeah, Simon Pegg can do dramatic acting. But Nick Frost, I feel like especially also deserves the flowers for being like a terrific dramatic actor as well as comedic actor. And the reason their comedies are often so affecting is because they can do both and they can access that extra vulnerability of truth in the humor. Reject Nation, when we first launched our merch store, Rejectnationshop.com. First suggestion we got was to use Shopify.

Starting point is 00:18:30 Now, a couple years later, with a successful online store, we still use Shopify to this day. So it's weird to say, thank you Shopify for sponsoring this video. And I'll be honest, I had no idea what Shopify was at first. So let me break it down for you in the simplest way possible. Shopify is how you sell stuff online. Whether you're starting a side hustle, launching a brand, or turning your passion into a business. Shopify gives you everything you need to set up, sell, and grow all in one place. Honestly, it's relatively easy.

Starting point is 00:18:58 You don't need to be a tech genius. Shopify handles all the tech, back-end stuff. Really important, they're trusted. Shopify powers millions of businesses. All the way from small brands to major companies. Sells more. Their checkout is the best in the world. Shop pay boosts conversions up to 50%, meaning more sales, fewer abandoned carts. And they help businesses grow.

Starting point is 00:19:18 They even offer funding through Shopify capital and seamless transactions through Shopify payment. So whether your customers are scrolling, scrolling, or shop it online, Shopify make sure you can sell wherever they are. So if you're serious about growing your business, this is the platform to use. Sign up for $1 per month trial at Shopify.com slash rejects, all lowercase. That's Shopify.com slash rejects to upgrade your selling today. Big things to Shopify for sponsoring this video. And I'm curious to know from you guys, what product or business have you guys wanted to start your launch before? More now.

Starting point is 00:19:51 Do it now with Shopify. Reject Nation, I love partnering with brands that I was already using that I get to use more now because I'm on a specific macro plan because six-pack Greg is going to be 2025. I'm bringing you guys on my journey. January 25th, that's when I committed to my macro plan diet. I started a 218 pounds, and as of today of filming this, I am now down to 191.2. And yes, yes, discipline, whatever. But let's be real. I need convenience. Like a lot of you long, work days, workouts. And I don't always have the time to cook or prep meals or learn to.

Starting point is 00:20:20 And that's why I keep Hewle in my routine. It makes eating healthy simple. You buy the pre-package or use the powder like I've been putting in this one, and it's great. Fuel's Black Edition, ready to drink, is a complete meal in a bottle. Packed with 35 grams of protein and 27 essential vitamins and minerals. So you're not just filling up, you're fueling up. Not just looking good, but feeling good. It's efficient. No cooking.

Starting point is 00:20:41 No meal prep. Just grab it, drink, it done so. It actually tastes great. A lot of protein shakes. You know how they taste. Come on, do I really need to tell you? They're not good. But this one's smooth, delicious, tasty, and no chalky aftertaste.

Starting point is 00:20:52 Low sugar, high protein, great macros. Bits into my plan without ruining my progress. Yes. And they've got more flavors than ever. Chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, banana, iced coffee. Or if you can't decide, you grab a variety box. Take the guesswork out of eating well. And another thing, too, it's affordable.

Starting point is 00:21:08 Each bottle is under five bucks. Making an easy choice for anyone who's looking for a quick, nutritious meal. So if you want to try giving your body something that's good for you, and also help support the channel along the way. You can go to Hewle.com, use my code rejects. You get 15% off your first order, plus a free gift. That's Hewled.com code rejects. fuel your body even on the go

Starting point is 00:21:28 you'll love it no for sure I think you know what I really think comedic actors make fantastic dramatic actors whether it's I've seen Will Ferrell do drama fantastic Adam Sandler has done fantastic in drama Jim Carrey amazing drama so I really would love

Starting point is 00:21:45 and obviously Nick Frost here I really would love and I get it their comfort zone is comedy a lot of these guys and do do what makes you happy and what you're comfortable with I really wish two at the same point some of these comedic geniuses would do a little more drama as well because I think they're so damn good at it but of course obviously you know it's their careers I want them

Starting point is 00:22:06 to do what makes them happy and express their art so but I love but I do love watching comedic actors do drama because I think they're so damn good at it oftentimes yeah I mean if you're a comedic actor who's not only pigeonholed to like one type of heightened character I feel like yeah a lot at times some of those fun surprises are discovering either that people who often make you laugh could make you cry or that people who often make you cry can also make you laugh you know. That's what's fun about it's fun. It's fun

Starting point is 00:22:33 to see that versatility from these actors with incredible range. So Lorenzo Zoyle joke. Oh my God, that was I saw that. You watched that in school. Oh yeah, I watched that in school too. Yeah, I think it was health class. Probably. Yeah. And I think it was 1992 with Nick Nalty and Susan Sarandon. I was like, that movie was

Starting point is 00:22:51 a great movie. It was depressing as hell. And that's one thing I will say is this does do some level of debate between like science and religion. And that is also a part that I found amusing and certainly you know, as a, you know, kid who grew up in Catholic school, you eventually

Starting point is 00:23:07 go through that sort of religion versus science versus mystery versus all of it, you know, debate in your head and you have the world brought it out for you. Yeah. But I do think that that is another one of those elements where I'm like, good idea, like good thing to have here obviously like, you know,

Starting point is 00:23:23 obviously that will challenge a prevailing, you know, just a faction of human thought here. But at the same time, there were a couple moments where I'm like, ah, like, you didn't need to punch down on it. Like at the end when Mr. Bugs, you know, is saying goodbye to Paul and, you know, the Lord be with you or whatever. And he's like, yeah, whatever, dude. I'm like, yeah, I get how that's in character and it's fine. But also, if it was me writing, I would have had him like humor him a little bit or at least not be like directly like, me. Like, yeah, it's like, and I get why Paul as a character, any of them would be like, oh, the idea of religion is silly. But there were times where it felt like, A, they could have, and I'm not asking for this movie to be a treatise on science and religion.

Starting point is 00:24:07 But, you know, I feel like they could have gone one spoonful of nuance deeper on that inclusion into the plot. And I think there are a couple of moments in which it seems like the movie really doesn't like religious people. No, what gave you that thought? Like, I don't mind roasting or deconstructing that in art and media at all. But, yeah, that was a time where I'm like, oh, like, that's kind of a barrier to the full love. Again, it's like there are times when they undercut the sentiment with, you know, a crude joke or a swear word or moments where I'm like, oh, you didn't need to be that mean about it, you know, but that's, those are, those are mostly marginal nitpicks for me. I agree with you there.

Starting point is 00:24:50 Well, I can't do the Rotten Tomatoes question with you because it's literally blasting us in the face right here on the screen. So I will ask you, what do you think this movie made worldwide in the box office? What's your prediction? Worldwide. That is international and domestic combined. I don't know how well this did. What is your guest, limit? Worldwide?

Starting point is 00:25:13 Yes. $85 million? What an incredible guest, John Lange, Humphreys? It made $97,984,015. Almost up to $100 million. I mean, yeah, that was a great guess, though. I was going to say. I don't feel like this would have been more.

Starting point is 00:25:30 I'm curious what the budget was. Oh, there I can look that up before we look at this. I'm curious as to whether, yeah, how this did for how it cost. So, Paul Budget. Yeah. Remember, you always have to double it for advertising. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Paul budget was $40 million.

Starting point is 00:25:46 Okay, so it's probably about broke even. 80 million. and then was 97, so they've maybe made about 10 to 15. They made a little bit of problem about this. And then obviously we don't count Blu-ray and DVDs and rentals. Which existed back then.

Starting point is 00:26:02 So they probably, I would assume, made about an extra 10, 15, maybe. I don't know, something like that. Let's get into some trivia. Well, actually, you know what, really quick, since we didn't do the Rotten Tomatoes, add a 10, what did this get on IMDB rating? I normally don't do that one,

Starting point is 00:26:19 but since rotten tomatoes was not available. IMDB has its own... No, I know. I know this is a little... Its own brain. For sure. Its own vibe. Just curious. 6.8 or 7.1? Hey, 6.9. Okay. You're right on that one.

Starting point is 00:26:34 Rotten tomatoes tends to be on the lower end. But this is all... That's also one of the few times I feel like it matches the tomato. The tomato is 70%. Audience 62. I'm a little surprised by, although I guess I can kind of see how the audience score might be lower because I think there is... It's weird. I think there is something that you would expect out of this. I think seeing these two you would expect this is

Starting point is 00:26:55 going to be like these guys doing another Sean of the Dead or Hot Fuzz or I don't remember when World's End is out at World's End I think that was 07? Oh okay so it's all before this. Yeah like I could see some audiences wanting something that feels like a

Starting point is 00:27:11 like a right movie and getting this and not being as thrilled about that. Oh no I was completely wrong the World's End is 2013. That's about Okay, okay, that sounds about right. Completely wrong. Wow, I've never been so off. Yeah, it would be like Sean of the Dead and Hot Fuzz would be before this.

Starting point is 00:27:26 Wow. And I did forget to mention, too, before we get into trivia, I love the, I know it was only one scene, but I'm glad they were able to get Steven Spielberg. Oh, that's fun, yeah. I'm sure they also told them, too, like, hey, we're going to be referencing the crap out of you throughout the film in a very positive light. So if there's any way we could get you, like, it's not integral to the film, but it's a celebration of sci-fi cinema.

Starting point is 00:27:48 It would be nice to have your blessing. And a celebration of you as well. Your sci-fi cinema. Yeah. So, yeah, that was cool that they were able to get him on the phone. Anyways, trivia. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost made the film to demonstrate their love for Stephen Spielberg's science fiction classics. Close encounters of the third kind and ET, the extraterrestrial.

Starting point is 00:28:07 Two films I need to react to, John. I haven't seen ET since I was a kid. And I've never seen close encounters. I have not seen close encounters in E.T. I saw when I was four or five. I don't really remember it. When Spielberg got wind of the project, he happily suggested that he make a cameo appearance of some sort. In this case, a voice on a speakerphone. Wow, so is his suggestion.

Starting point is 00:28:25 Fun guy. That is cool. Fun guy, Stevie Spielberg. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost came up with the concept for Paul while waiting out a rainstorm on the set of Sean of the Dead. The handed producer, near a park, a sketch drawing of Paul wearing an FBI t-shirt, flipping off the viewer with a caption that read, in the U.S., everybody is an alien. The actual drawing can be seen during the closing credits. That I wish that made it in somewhere in the U.S. Everyone is an alien. Damn.

Starting point is 00:28:52 Well, I think instead, we got the picture of Paul saying F you. Yeah, I know. But that's, yeah, but imagine, imagine if that had been part of the vibe of the movie. Yeah, well, they said to that, the hotel guy, Jorge, I think his name was, it said, have you seen aliens? Like, what do you mean, alien? Yeah, it's still in there. Yeah, so it's tidy a little bit in there.

Starting point is 00:29:13 While researching the film, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost drove an RV along the route, Cliven Graham taken the script During the trip They stopped at the little alien Where they encountered a chatty waitress And some belligerent locals The encounter inspired them to include it in the script

Starting point is 00:29:28 For sure Life imitates art or art It imitates life Art imitates life During the sequence in the comic shop An issue of The Boys A genuine series can be seen on one of the racks One of this comic's main characters

Starting point is 00:29:42 Hughie Campbell Was intentionally drawn to look like Simon Pegg Peg wrote the introduction for the first collected edition of The Boys and would later appear in the TV adaptation of the graphic novel on Amazon Prime Video, which is produced by Seth Rogen. I didn't know Seth Rogen produced it. Yeah, Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, I think. And that's funny, I called out the Boys comic,

Starting point is 00:30:03 but I forgot to mention that. A bit of trivia, because, yeah, Huey famously is made to look like Simon Pegg with a little goate. For much of the filming, Seth Rogen was off filming the Green Hornet. want to see that still i you know what everyone craps on it i'm not saying it's a great film but i still find i still find entertainment in it curious about michel gondry yeah and so was unable to complete completely inhabit paul's motion and interact with the other actors joe low truglio which also plays o'reilly in the

Starting point is 00:30:35 film stood in and finished what rogan didn't complete he studied rogan extensively in order to impersonate his voice performed on his knees to capture paul's physical presence and even improvised in character as Paul. When filming wrapped, Rogan came in and provided the character's voice. Oh, Joe La Truglios,

Starting point is 00:30:53 the lo Truglios sounds like the perfect person to be like, hey, could you jump in? Because, like, he's another one of those guys who's, like, really funny and good at playing,

Starting point is 00:31:02 like, wacky guys, but also you get the sense, like, probably does his homework and really gets in character. And, like, yeah,

Starting point is 00:31:09 he seems like a guy who would be fun to perform with. I mean, if he wasn't available, they also could have went to Sean Gunn. Or Andy. circus. That too, obviously, yeah. In an interview, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost mentioned that making a big budget studio film, they cited Paul as being more expensive than Sean of the Dead and Hot Buzz put together. There was a need for compromise, not in a negative sense, but that the studio also had a say in the filmmaking process. For instance, they originally felt an older actor like Jack Nicholson or Rip Torn would be ideal for the voice of the title character. But when the studio suggested Seth Rogan, they like the idea due to Rogan's distinguishable voice.

Starting point is 00:31:48 Yeah. Oh, God, I get you imagine those James. Ian said. I'm Paul. Can you help me get back to my house? My ship.

Starting point is 00:32:01 Yeah, that'd be fun. At the 2010, San Diego Comic Con, Seth Rogan admitted that he had to consult help from Andy Circus for inspiration in order to get the idea and how to use the motion capture suit for his CGI character

Starting point is 00:32:16 Paul. Circus had originally portrayed through motion capture and voice in The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings films. I bet his phone has rung itself off the hook with people being like, how do I do this? Oh, I am so disappointed at myself right now. I was not listening to this very carefully. In the scene at

Starting point is 00:32:36 Roy's Roadhouse Bar, the house band is playing the canteen a song from Star Wars. Oh, I call it. Yeah, you called it. I didn't hear you call it. Yeah, you can hear it. They cut to the guys on stage. I got it. When I rewatch it, I will listen for that. Shame, Andrew. Shame. That's a gimmy. That's like writing your name on the test. Seriously. In the scene where Paul is talking, I think you called this, and the scene where Paul is talking to Steven Spielberg on the phone,

Starting point is 00:33:01 Paul is calling from a huge room that looks like the warehouse where the Ark of the Covenant was stored at the ending of Raiders of the Lost Ark. John called up. Jason Bateman based his characterization on Yappet Koto in Midnight Run. all that and Tommy Lee Jones in The Fugitive. That I could see. Fun. Okay, yeah, I haven't seen Aficodo in Midnight Run, but I have seen The Fugitive again recently. And if you haven't seen that, it was one of the best movies of all time.

Starting point is 00:33:28 Midnight Run? No, Fugitive. You see a Fugitive? Many times. I love that movie. When Agent Haggard is chasing Paul near the movies ending, I'll do this one, and then we'll go to one or two spoilers. When Agent Haggard is chasing Paul near the movie's ending, he tries to shoot at the RV. He fires a shot at him, and he says,

Starting point is 00:33:46 smile you son of a bitch this is another stephen spilberg move in this case jaws were royishire's character chief brodie says the same thing right before he shoots the air taking the sharks mouth that was so obvious that was me that's for you specifically and oh wow there was another reference to stephen spilberg's nineteen forty one i didn't even remember that 1941 i have not seen lorenzo's oil is a play on words in a reference to lorenzo's oil in which nick nulte tries to find a cure for his son yep we knew that one Nick Nolty, Paul. And, oh, Simon Pegg is the godfather to co-star Blight Danner's granddaughter and Gwyneth Paltrow's daughter, Apple Martin. Danner is Paltrow's mother.

Starting point is 00:34:24 This marks the first time together between Danner and Pegg. Further, Steven Spielberg, who does a cameo voiceover in the film, talking to Paul and speakerphone, is Gwenteth Paltrow's godfather. Jesus. And also, Spielberg directed Gwyneth Paltrow in Hook, because she was a young Wendy. Wow. Lots of connections. Hook is one I should see again. I feel like I maybe saw it

Starting point is 00:34:43 like half of it in school. Yeah. So that's the one with Rufio. Rufio! Yeah, that'd be a good reaction for you. Let's just do two really quick. The overpriced sword that Clive looks at during Comic-Con and then eventually

Starting point is 00:34:56 Bison in Wyoming was intended as a nod to blade, but the filmmakers couldn't get permission to use the reference, so they simply called it the Black Vampire, realizing the audience would get the joke. The Black Vampire, do you. Oh, my God.

Starting point is 00:35:10 Wow. I feel so dumb. And I was just fielding a blade reference looking over the what we do in the shadows at it. All right, during the fight scene in the woods at the movie's ending before punching Sigourney Weaver to save Kristen Way, Blythe, Danner says, get away from her, you bitch.

Starting point is 00:35:27 This is the same line spoken by Weaver's character, Ellen Ripley is aliens when defending nude from the alien. Yeah. All right. Do it the trivia. Yeah, last one. during the ending credits a burn scared O'Reilly

Starting point is 00:35:41 Joe La Truglio is briefly seen and heard shouting, I know those guys showing that he survived the exploding farmhouse that occurred towards the film ending, so we were correct that that was him. Good catch, man. Yeah, well I figured and I guess Bill Hader just

Starting point is 00:35:55 straight up died. Yeah, either that or he's still at the bottom in that clip. Yeah, that would be a sequel about him. Yes, exactly. Kind of like Will Ferrell and Austin Powers where he gets stuck falling down the cliff. He's like, hello, I need some help. Yeah. I'll try to get on the other one.

Starting point is 00:36:12 Anyways, what did you guys think? By the way, if you've stuck with us this long, we appreciate it. You guys are amazing. What did you think of Paul? We enjoyed it a great deal. Is it your favorite Simon Pegg, Nick Frost film, or where would you rank it in all their films? Because they've obviously done many films together.

Starting point is 00:36:30 So we'd love to hear your thoughts. Are there other films like this? with these two, I don't know if there's other films that these two have been in, but are there other films in vain like this, rather, that you'd like John, myself, other members of the team to react to, we'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments. Which one? Some point.

Starting point is 00:36:47 I've seen it, I've seen it, unfortunately. Detective what? Attack the block. Oh, I've never, I've never seen it. I would love to react to it. And that's got Nick Frost at least. Oh, cool. I'd love to see it. But yeah, like, if there are other films you'd like us to react to, let us know in the comments. And, yeah, take

Starting point is 00:37:04 care if you see an alien or find one, be smart, make good decisions. Don't get probed. Yes, exactly. We know they do that. See you guys.

Your Ad Here

The Reel Rejects - PAUL (2011) IS HYSTERICAL! MOVIE REVIEW! First Time Watching

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.