Disappointing dvds

Recent viewings have been disappointing to say the least as follows

Paul (Directed by Greg Mottola)


When does a movie go from paying homage to its favourite sci fi films to just ripping them off every five minutes? The answer is Paul.

Paul is the bloated, self indulgent offspring of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, a film about two sci fi geeks who encounter an alien on their way across America's outback of Paranormal hotspots. There is no denying Pegg and Frosts love for the films of Spielberg, Lucas et all and their in joke tributes to them have worked well in the past in the series Spaced. However over the course of an entire film it feels lazy, unfunny and unoriginal (apart from a Star Wars bar reference which is a doozy). The script is predictable and not up to the standard of previous efforts and one cant help wonder that perhaps the duo's secret ingredient is really Edgar Wright who is absence on directing duties, after Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. The lovely Kristen Wiig is wasted in a role that does not play to her strengths and Jason Bateman is well Jason Bateman. It seems left to their own devices, the boys don't know when to reign it in, Paul at times feels like a film just made for themselves. Wish they had included the audience a little more.

Best left assigned to a galaxy far far away......

The Adjustment Bureau (directed by Gregg Nolfi)

Grrr, this film makes me a little mad. It could have been so much better. It had the pedigree for pity's sake. Based on a Phillip K Dick story, starring the reliable Matt Damon, it has Mad Men's Roger Stirling! (ok so it's John Slattery but he will always be Roger Stirling to me) and an intriguing premise of how we are not in control of our destiny and everything is in fact pre ordained by a shady organisation The Adjustment Bureau.
What emerges from this sci fi thriller is a very bland, dull pointless film. The plot revolves around Matt Damons politician and Emily Blunts dancer falling for each other and then being kept apart by the forces on high, as they were not supposed to be for one another and for some inexplicable reason, the Bureau is intent on keeping them apart. Cue clever plot devices, involving romance and edge of your seat tension, guess again. Instead it's a series of meandering scenes, silly code breakers (Hats, really is that all it takes and a few twists of a doorknob?) and half hearted relationships entwined in a narrative that might as well not bothered. Damon is wasted paired with the comatose Blunt who looks like she is falling asleep in every scene (that she is a dancer is laughable given her languid performance). The fact that she doesn't even seem interested in Damon for three quarters of the film means that you care little that this pair even get together which leaves the film at a loss with the audience and you almost wish that Damon is caught and lobotomised (Blunt looks like she already has been).

Ladies and Gentlemen please adjust your sets.