Paul (2011)

Visiting the United States for the first time, Brits Graeme (Simon Pegg) and Clive (Nick Frost) are on a geek tour of comic book conventions and alien landing sites. While on the road, they crash their Winnebago into a car and meet the laid-back Paul (voiced by Seth Rogen), an escaped alien. If Paul doesn't meet his ship by a certain time U.S. agents will certainly kill him, and so the two nerds must break out of their comfort zones to help. Along the way they "kidnap" Ruth Buggs (Kristen Wiig), who works at a trailer park, and any number of various rednecks, secret agents, and oddballs join in the chase. Can Paul make it in time?

Happily, Paul has a genuine sweetness and relaxed quality that eventually works, even though it doesn't quite live up to its potential. The shocking humor slowly smoothes itself out and meshes into the laid-back quality of the narrative, and the sheer presence of the cast helps. (Sigourney Weaver provides some bite, as well as a bit of sci-fi history, as a mysterious government figure.) It could have been quite a bit more, but at least it's charming.