Out-of-this-world comedy

THERE have been so many great on-screen partnerships over the years, Slyvester Stallone and Carl Weathers, Danny Glover and Mel Gibson, and, for fans of British comedy, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost.

Last week I saw Wild Target, a modern British comedy that shows just how funny us Brits can be. This week, I saw Paul, another British comedy that is totally out-of-this-world.

Pegg and Frost have had a cult following since their spoof zombie movie Shaun of the Dead hit the big screen in 2004. They followed up its success with Hot Fuzz in 2007 and now, the dynamic duo of British comedy has reunited on a truly stellar project.

It's hard to make a decent movie about aliens without falling into clichŽs of the genre. I find that films of this kind either portray extraterrestrials as bloodthirsty monsters like Predator or overly cute playthings like ET.

However, Paul manages to offer something different and totally accessible to all movie fans, even if they don't usually blast off at the idea of sci-fi.

Graeme and Clive are two geeky chaps from the UK who decide to visit the US to take in the sights. The usual stuff, Statue of Liberty, Central Park ... no, UFO hotspots in the hopes of finding life from another planet!

They begin their journey in Roswell New Mexico and other alien-themed sights, but are left disappointed when (not surprisingly) they don't find anything out of the ordinary.

However, while driving through the desert, a car crashes in front of them. The two lads check to see if the driver is OK, only to discover he is an alien named Paul (I was expecting a name a little more intergalactic!).

Although Paul's appearance is typically alien, his name and mannerisms are very human. He's grumpy, facetious, and witty and speaks perfect English, all in all, not what you'd expect.

Paul manages to talk them into helping him get back to his home planet (sadly, he doesn't ask to phone home), and along the way, the trio pick up Ruth, the daughter of a religious fanatic. The trio try to subdue the erratic woman, all the while being chased by the secret service who want to experiment on Paul.

Ruth is a fantastic character and sets up a number of the best jokes in the film. She mistakes Paul for the Devil so the boys have no choice but to kidnap her and try to change her narrow-minded worldview. Her transformation from a repressed conservative into a party animal is comedic gold.

And, the reason this film works so well is because of the partnership of Pegg and Frost. It wouldn't surprise me at all if half the gags where composed off-the-cuff.

The pair delivers their lines flawlessly and with impeccable timing. Often, their facial expressions and knowing glances say more than words can.

However, what really makes Paul a great movie is the casting of Seth Rogen as the voice of Paul. It's hard to successfully add a third wheel to a double act, but Rogen fits into the dynamic like the missing wheel on a tricycle. His character is totally endearing, albeit slightly rude and the animation is some of the best I've seen.

The film is well-paced and original. I recommend you watch it, because it's light-years ahead of the curve.

Showing in Cineco, Seef II, Saar and Al Jazeera Cineplex.