Paul

Paul is currently streaming in Australia on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, and in the UK on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, and it delivers exactly the kind of comedy that earns a loyal following. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. Its 7/10 TMDB score, built from 6,347 ratings, reflects a title that consistently delivers. Simon Pegg's performance alone is worth the time investment. Available now on Netflix — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Paul earns its spot. Paul gets the fundamentals right first, then finds room to get weird with it. For the past 60 years, a space-traveling smart-ass named Paul has been locked up in a top-secret military base, advising world leaders about his kind. But when he worries he’s outlived his usefulness and the dissection table is drawing uncomfortably close, Paul escapes on the first RV that passes by his compound in Area 51. Fortunately, it contains the two earthlings who are most likely to rescue and harbor an alien on the run. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost lead a cast that never overplays a joke. It hit screens in 2011. The real test of any comedy is whether it is still funny once you know all the jokes, and Paul holds up on rewatch in a way that separates it from one-off curiosities. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

For viewers who want something light without wanting something stupid, Paul respects your intelligence. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Simon Pegg's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.