Review: Zack and Miri Make a Porno

Kevin Smith’s second foray into making a movie without those beloved hetero life mates, the stoner duo Jason and Quiet Robert. No Askewniverse in this one folks. No references to Julie Dwyer. No scene at a Quick Stop. No Canadian female singers as God. Not even Ben Affleck. Just straight up real world antics of porn making (something everyone and their grandmother can relate to).

Basically the title says it all. Zack and Miri make a porno. Perhaps a more wordy plot summary would be: Lifelong platonic friends and roommates Zack (Seth Rogen) and Miri (Elizabeth Banks) find themselves in financial straits and facing losing their apartment so decide the lucrative idea of making a porno would be a quick and easy way of getting quick cash and enlist several old and new friends in their endeavor, but did not expect to have the newly risen romantic feelings of having sex with each.

It’s a very heartwarming picture with the relationship of Zack and Miri at the center, which is a difficult prospect given its subject matter. Unfortunately the flick does fall into the trappings of a typical romantic comedy. You know, where there’s this big blow-up between the two characters over what is simply misinformation. The porn angle does bring new credence and problems to this unimaginative turn, but still, c’mon. Luckily the acting and writing is able to rise above these trappings, but just barely. I also would’ve appreciated some more development on the peripheral characters in the film. Everybody they hire on to help quickly becomes best friends, which just seems a little forced (bow chicka wow-wow) given we only see them spend like four days together all if involving the prospect of soulless sex for money. The movie does present the idea that everyone is enjoying themselves in the project (it seemed more like they were making small movie among friends rather than a fuckfest), but I still would’ve preferred more background and growth.

Really where the movie fails is humor wise, which I found quite surprising. Not that it’s unfunny, because it’s quite funny, just not to the level we’ve seen from Smith over the years. There are still the brilliant comedic mot justes only he can spew, but just not enough for my taste. Seemed to be more Judd Apatow related (which isn’t too surprising given it seems more than half the cast is an Apatow alum). Special mention of Craig Robinson, who manages some truly great comedic deliveries. As well as the great cameos of Justin Long and Brandon Routh.

So Zack and Miri isn’t so much a comedy as it is a romantic comedy for the couple that doesn’t mind foul language, porn, and a flood of poop humor in their love stories. And really aren’t these the foundations of love anyway?

Rating: 6.5/10