Paul Easter Egg – Lorenzo Zoil
UPDATE 1/6/2013: Since this article discussing the Paul easter egg “Lorenzo Zoil” was posted in 2011, it has become the most popular article on MovieGuys.org (Ever!). I would like to thank everyone for writing in and leaving opinions and other Paul easter eggs in the comments. Thanks to everyone for stopping by and sharing the eggs that you spotted. Be sure to check out some of our other articles, leave a comment, or send us an email before you leave (we are always on the lookout for talented guest writers. Hint hint…).
UPDATE (6/21/2011)
Several people have sent in emails regarding the “Lorenzo Zoil” easter egg, so I dug just a little bit more and was able to find some more info. Apparently Nick Frost is to blame, and admits that it isn’t really relevant, just a play on words. I am unable to verify the following quote, but as far as I can tell it is an excerpt from an interview that Pegg and Frost did with SyFy:
Frost can take credit for one of the film’s oddest jokes. The name of the agent chasing the trio is Lorenzo Zoil (Jason Bateman). Put the names together, and it sounds like “Lorenzo’s Oil,” which is also the title of a movie about the parents who developed a cure for their son’s rare disease.
“That was one of mine,” Frost said. “It’s just one of those things that I kind of like doing, that thing that you take one letter from the surname and add it to the forename and it becomes something completely different. It’s possible someone could be called Lorenzo Zoil.”
Paul Easter Egg: What is the meaning behind Lorenzo Zoil?
So yesterday I watched Paul, which was hilarious! I don’t have the time, or the skill to give it a proper review today, but there is one thing that I feel needs cleared up.
For those of you who watched Paul, I am sure that you are aware that it was packed with Easter Eggs, and references to other films. Star Wars, Back to the Future, and E.T. just to name a few. Some eggs were very obvious, some were hidden, and some were just shoved down your throat, and I for one felt like an idiot when I didn’t “get” one.
Basically towards the end of the film one of the agents introduces himself. His name is “Zoil, Lorenzo Zoil.” This was one of these eggs that was just shoved at you. I could tell by the way it was played that it was an egg, but had no clue what it was. I felt kind of retarded sitting in a crowded theater full of people that probably “got it” and I was clueless.
Luckily MovieGuy Josh came to the rescue, and I was relieved when he asked me, “Who in the hell is Lorenzo Zoil?” Whew, I’m not alone. So I put him to work on the ride home Googling away until we found a solution.
Josh was able to stumble across an amazing post that explained the whole thing, along with several other eggs. Rafe Telsch from WideScreenWarrior.com explains:
Agent Zoil: I’ll admit, this one was far too forced. When Agent Zoil is formally introduced to Graeme and Clive, he reveals his first name: Lorenzo. That makes his full name Lorenzo Zoil, a nod to Lorenzo’s Oil, a 1992 picture that has nothing to do with science-fiction. I’m sure there’s a reason Pegg and Frost put the reference in the movie, but it definitely feels out of place.
Oh, so that’s what it is referencing… Sadly that just raises more questions. What does Lorenzo’s Oil a 1992 DRAMA (this explains why I didn’t get the reference), have to do with an alien / sci-fi nerd comedy?
So why the reference to a cheesy 1990’s drama? Perhaps Nick Frost and Simon Pegg really are a little “funny.” I am really at a loss on this one, but if anyone has any theories sound-off in the comments.
Sci-Fi References and other Paul Easter Eggs
Below is a list of eggs that have been submitted by our awesome commentors here at MovieGuys. This has been one of the most fun posts I have ever written. Thanks again to all that have left a comment and keep them coming!
- Real-life reference: When Paul is driving the RV, he crashes into a metal windmill. It is an exact match to the metal windmill that was supposedly destroyed in a UFO crash in Aurora, Texas in 1897. (submitted by Flip)
- Close Encounters of the Third Kind: In the fireworks store, they buy a large firework that is called “The Five Tones.” The 5 tones are the core tones from Close Encounters of the Third Kind. (submitted by Butch)
- Another Close Encounters of the Third Kind Reference: Anyone catch the business names Gerties and Roys, both names of characters in Close Encounters. (submitted by Bob)
- Yet Another Close Encounters of the Third Kind Reference: The mountain where Paul sets off the fire works to call his ship is the same mountain in the Spielberg movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind. (submitted by greenbean)
- Charles Darwin’s Ship: On the RV the name Beagle is the name of the ship Darwin used. (submitted by Bob)
- Possible War of the Worlds Egg: The light in the fathers house looked like the probe on the movie War of the Worlds the 1950s movie). (submitted by Rick)
- Star Wars Cantina Music: Another obvious reference was the music played at the roadhouse was the cantina music from Star Wars (submitted by MdKnightMan)
- Blues Brothers: “I’m on a mission from God!” The Blues Brothers. (submitted by Rick)
- Indiana Jones: Short Round (submitted by Rod G. and Tony)
- Another Indiana Jones: The warehouse where the phone call scene took place was a reference to the Indy franchise. (submitted by Stuart and Jessie)
- Escape to Witch Mountain: The Winnebago is the same make and year as the one used in the original Disney movie from the 70′s called Escape to Witch Mountain about two alien children stuck on Earth. (submitted by greenbean)
- Total Recall: The three tit alien woman is also in the movie Total Recall. (submitted by greenbean)
- Jaws: Don’t forget, before Haggard goes of the cliff, he says “Smile you son of a bitch.” Trying to sotyou Paul this was an obvious reference to JAWS. (submitted by RxDoc)
- E.T.: Did anyone catch the Reese’s Pieces egg when they stop at the gas station? If anyone remembers E.T. ate Reese’s Pieces in E.T. Extra Terrestrial. So it can be assumed that all aliens eat Reese’s Pieces. (submitted by Jake)
- Aliens: Another Easter egg: in the final scene, just before Tara punches “The Big Guy” (Sigourney Weaver’s character), Tara says “Get away from her you BITCH!” This is a relatively obvious reference to a line in Aliens by Ripley (played by none other than Sigourney Weaver herself)!!! (submitted by Tom)