Paul

Paul, a science fiction comedy film released in 2011, directed by Greg Mottola, takes a fresh look at the alien invasion genre, presenting a lighthearted and humorous twist. Although Paul has been imprisoned in a top-secret military base in Area 51 for over 60 years, advising world leaders about his kind, he has become increasingly disenchanted with his situation. Throughout the years, Paul has developed an insatiable wit, displaying an unapologetic cynicism towards human nature and societal norms. Bored out of his mind and fearing that he'll soon be dissected to gain a deeper understanding of extraterrestrial life, Paul devises an escape plan. When he spots an RV passing by the base, he jumps onto it and hitch-hikes, starting a series of unpredictable events. On board the RV is Trevor (Luke Gregerson and Griff Murphy), a typical high school graduate, along with his cousin Holly (Kirsten Palmer), a rebellious college student who is on break. Unbeknownst to the two cousins, their lives are about to change forever. With Paul hiding in the RV, they begin a chaotic and wacky adventure, filled with sarcastic remarks, dark humor, and adventure. Initially, Trent confronts Paul, worried that the escaped alien would ruin their road trip plans. Holly, however, chooses to believe in Paul and his alien nature, whereas Trent decides to ignore his presence for fear of having a mentally unstable person on the loose. Their actions are compounded by a number of eccentric characters, which the trio encounter on their route. These include Jesse (David Koechner), a passionate, paranoid and slightly unstable UFO cultist, Zoey (Anna Faris), a beautiful and intriguing former love partner of Jesse, Guy (Riki Lindhome), a college student hell-bent on becoming a big Star Wars star. These subplots, besides providing comedic relief, reinforce the film's focus on friendship, acceptance, and the human need to explore and understand our surroundings. Trent eventually turns a blind eye to his surroundings and accepts Paul with the rest of his companions, much to Trevor's consternation and confusion. Eventually, they go to Area 51, where they put their skills and passion to work, together they manage to expose the real goal of the base's administration, its unsavory true motives and bring them to light. Upon seeing their involvement in hiding the truth about extraterrestrial life from their country's populace, comes a turning point. As they realize they shared their whole alien encounter, this understanding creates unity between Paul and the Trevors, serving as a focal point for the film's acceptance and open-mindedness message. A mix of sci-fi and comedy, Paul pokes fun at the typical expectations of the genre while challenging viewers to be more open-minded, accepting the possibility of an extraterrestrial presence on Earth. Despite criticisms, it received praise for its unexpected viewpoint, great characters, quirky humor and fast-paced narrative.