Paul (2011)

Count the movie references in Paul and you’ll run out of fingers before the RV gets rolling. That’s the problem. Spot the Close Encounters nod, spot the Star Wars nod, spot the other Star Wars nod, and wait for the joke that’s supposed to come after. Some land, plenty don’t. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are lovable as two British fanboys on a desert road trip, but they’re stuck playing straight men to a CGI alien voiced by Seth Rogen, who acts exactly like Seth Rogen. Kristen Wiig is the secret weapon as Ruth, a sheltered RV park worker whose whole worldview flips in one afternoon, and she’s funnier than anyone in the van. Jason Bateman plays a stone-faced agent who’s more interesting than his scenes. The crude humor wears thin fast. It made $98 million worldwide on a reported $40M. A 6.2 because the friendship is sweet and the references do too much of the work. $83.21 says you see a highway sign for a UFO museum on your next trip and take the exit without asking anyone.

What works: Kristen Wiig is the funniest person in it, and Simon Pegg and Nick Frost have the easy chemistry of real best friends.

What doesn’t: Too many jokes are just nods to other sci-fi movies, and the crude humor wears thin long before the finale.

Who it’s for: Sci-fi fans who’d catch every reference and still enjoy a road trip comedy with an alien in the back seat.