Paul

Hardly a masterpiece, but if you're in the mood for some goofy fun, sure, why not? I know that's not really a ringing endorsement, but that's pretty much what you have with this movie: a decent sci-fi comedy that spoofs the genre in a tame fashion, raising a decent amount of laughs without ever cutting too deep. Most of what goes on in the story is fairly predictable, so the film's worthiness comes largely from the appeal of the actors and their characters. Co-leads Simon Pegg and Nick Frost have their goofy British bloke types down pat by now--they've played some variation on these guys in several movies now--and they go a long way toward making this outing appealing. Seth Rogen is OK as the titular fugitive ET; sometimes he lays it on too thick, sometimes he's spot on; overall, it works. The supporting work, from several Saturday Night Live refugees, is fairly up and down; you get a pretty good sense why most of the projects that have come from later cast members have been fair to middling at best. Nobody's awful, things work out in the end (as you know they will all along), and there are enough laughs--and inside references to any number of sci-fi works of the ago--for most viewers to enjoy themselves. Out of this world? No, but you can appreciate staying firmly earth-bound, if you let yourself.