Nerds, wizards, people in the craft of war and the rest of the reality inept…May I introduce you to Paul? I had my reservations about this movie, but by the end I was onboard.

Paul isn’t complicated; a pair of Brits on holiday at Comic-Con who set out to see the unconventional sights the US has to offer stumble upon a nerds wet dream, a real life alien in need of help.

The film stars Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Seth Rogen who brings to life the sarcastic but lovable asshole alien, Paul, chemistry’s like an alien chick with three tits, awesome. Along with the dashing trio, laugh makers from Saturday Night Live, Judd Apatow regulars and a mini Arrested Development reunion will pleasure the senses of the obvious audience of stoners and college kids.

Pot brownies aside, the one thing Sci-Fi aficionados won’t miss are the references that pay homage to everything from E.T. to Predator. All the throwbacks reminded me of last years hit, Easy A that was fueled by the John Hughes handbook. But unlike Easy A, Paul is able to deliver without relying to heavily one every note from the past. It didn’t hurt to have Ms. Alien herself and Steven Spielberg either.

What does hurt are the numerous accounts I’ve heard about Paul getting flack for his similarities to “Roger” from American Dad. They both look like the stereotypical alien we’ve come to accept and are quick with the sass, other than that, they are two completely different extraterrestrials. Plus, I don’t want to get started on my hate/love ordeal with Seth MacFarlane right now. That’s for another day, another time.

Paul, a Revenge of the Nerds for today; a step back to a time when geeks were discomfited staples in life, not the cutie pies of the Michael Cera and Jesse Eisenberg kind. Paul, also a tale of the socially awkward, the other kind, friendship and finding yourself or “some bullshit like that,” Paul’s words, not mine.

This movie won’t win an Oscar, it’s not smug enough and people have actually heard of it, but I bet it’ll score at the MTV Movie Awards…if that even still exists. So if you’ve ever been to Comic-Con, love Sci-Fi or just enjoy laughing, Paul’s for you. If not? Maybe some “deep” movie drops that weekend so you can go and pretend to understand it.