Paul

It’s "Close Encounters" meets "Race to Witch Mountain" meets "E.T.", if E.T. had the personality of Seth Rogen. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are back and doing to sci-fi/alien encounter movies what they did for zombie ("Shaun of the Dead") and cop ("Hot Fuzz") films. Two nerdy Brits fresh from Comic Con take a wild road trip on the Extraterrestrial Highway and rescue a fugitive alien named Paul. Rated "R" for some drug use and frequent inappropriate language, it’s hysterically funny with a great ensemble cast (including Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, and Jason Bateman). Keep your eyes open and your ears alert for many jokes and tributes to everything sci-fi that true geeks would appreciate. Also, look for some surprise cameos. During the credits, see what happens to these lovable idiots 2 years later.

Alien gives it 3 ½ "it’s probing time" stars out of 4.