Romantic comedies tend to follow a formula. Boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl, something goes terribly wrong because of the boy’s actions and everything is resolved with a desperate and grand romantic gesture at the end. Director Kevin Smith has taken this formula and, to put it poetically, screwed it sideways, producing the unconventional but ever so delightful “Zack and Miri Make a Porno.”
The story follows Zack (Seth Rogen) and Miri (Elizabeth Banks), two platonic friends about to enter dire financial straits.
After attending their 10th high school reunion, they realize they’re both terrible losers, primarily because of their irresponsible spending habits. They come to the perfectly logical conclusion that they’ve got to start making amateur porn to get rich.
With the help of their friend Delaney (Craig Robinson) and a hastily assembled crew of amateur porn stars, they set out to produce some smut and thereby save themselves from financial ruin.
This movie is filthy and hilarious. The jokes, while usually so raunchy as to completely offend every sensibility you ever have held or will hold in the future, are genuinely delivered and perfectly timed.
The pacing is spot on, keeping the story moving with plot developments that, while logical and easy to follow, definitely add a fresh dimension to the film. It’s pretty much a given that by the time this movie is over, any mention of the nonsensically termed “Dutch Rudder” will leave you giggling for hours.
Smith is known for one thing above all others, and that is fan service. His first film “Clerks” was a low-budget cult classic, and virtually every one of his films since then has incorporated characters from that first film.
The first few times it was funny, but as it continued to happen over and over again, Smith stopped being a director one could take seriously. “Zack and Miri” looks to be the end of that era, as Smith is once again tapping his vast creative potential and producing films that everyone can relate to.
The acting is top notch. Rogen and Banks, both quickly moving up the ladder to A-list status (for comedies, at least), are in fine form as the titular characters. Robinson, somewhat less well known to those who don’t watch “The Office,” brings his unique charm to the fore. And it’s nice to see Jason Mewes in a new role. True, it is similar to his Jay character from past Kevin Smith movies, but it works nonetheless.
Keep in mind though, this is not a movie for the uptight hoity-toity types. It’s hilarious, but it’s dirty. It’s got a great story, but that story is about amateur porn. People who take themselves very seriously and can’t laugh at jokes involving poop and genitals should stay as far away from this film as possible.
Despite this film being among Smith’s funniest and best, it can only be recommended to those with a dirty sense of humor.
That’s unfortunate because buried in all the nasty and graphic content is a very sweet and endearing love story.
If you can stomach it then you won’t go wrong with this film.
