Zack and Miri Make a Porno

(2008)

Directed by

Kevin Smith

Review by Todd Plucknett

Kevin Smith’s new film Zack and Miri Make a Porno is hilarious and sometimes brilliant. It is just the second film Smith has done outside his Askewniverse (Jersey Girl being the other). It is undeniably entertaining, and it has some of the more tender qualities that some of Smith’s previous films had. If skeptics can get past the title, they will find themselves having a great time at the movies laughing hysterically.

This story is, not surprisingly, about a couple named Zack (Seth Rogan) and Miri (Elizabeth Banks), who make a porno. They are lifelong friends who live in an apartment that they struggle paying any of the bills for. They are broke and desperate, much like many of Smith’s previous characters. What do they do next?

It all starts at a 10 year high school reunion that neither of them wanted to go to, except for Miri, who wanted to hook up with Bobby Long (Brandon Routh), a guy who teased her back in high school and is now raking in the money. The best scene in the film is when Zack meets Brandon (Justin Long) at the reunion. He did not go the high school, but he was there with his lover. That happened to be Bobby Long. The conversation that ensues is nothing short of hilarious. Brandon reveals that he is in gay porn, after a hysterical few lines mentioning Glengarry Glen Ross, among other things. Meanwhile, Miri is throwing herself at Brandon, not finding out until later that Bobby is actually gay. That whole scene is just brilliant.

Miri works at the mall, and Zack works in a coffee shop, making minimal amounts of money. Working with him is Delaney (Craig Robinson), who later becomes the film’s producer because he had some spare cash that he was going to buy a nicer TV with before Zack persuaded him to invest in their film. The other major players in the film include Stacey (Katie Morgan), who is a waitress at a club. There is also Lester (Jason Mewes), who gets in because of his…talent I guess. There is also Bubbles (Traci Lords), who gets hired for her experience and the bubbles trick displayed in the trailer. The cameraman is Deacon (Jeff Anderson). These people combine their knowledge to come up with the best porno titles based on actual movies (or as they call them, erotic reimaginings). The funniest one is what they come up with for Apocalypse Now, but then they get it: “Star Whores”. Of course, every Smith film needs a Star Wars mention. They cast the film and begin shooting, only to see the building storing all the equipment get torn down. What ensues is absolute hilarity. Zack realizes that they could film it right in the coffee shop. They write the sleaziest film with the title “Swallow My Cockuccino”. It is not all fun and games for Zack and Miri, though, but it is for the audience.

All of the acting is fabulous in this film. Rogan is the best comedian out there that really can make it look as if he is not acting at all. He owns this character, and I could not imagine anyone else playing it. Banks is absolutely marvelous in her role. She has really risen to the top of her generation of actresses very quickly, especially since she has seemingly been in every film released this year. She brings to the film some affection, while not seeming like she doesn’t belong with the Smith’s bawdy humor. She plays the role superbly, and she is officially a movie star. After playing every guy’s dream woman in Invincible, an ever-growing part in the Spider-Man films, and Laura Bush in W, she has made herself a household name. Craig Robinson has become a very reliable comedic supporting character after Knocked Up and Pineapple Express, and he steals the show here on occasion as well. Another Apatow actor Gerry Bednob has a hilarious small part here. Smith veteran Jason Mewes (Jay) plays a different character than usual, but he is the same at heart. Jeff Anderson is fine in his underwritten role. He will never top Randall, though, one of my all time favorite characters. Whenever I see him (which is way too infrequently), I will think of Randall. Porn stars Katie Morgan and Traci Lords also appear. Morgan is hot, but totally shallow and dense, which makes her fit in nicely. Lords adds very little except for the bubbles scene. Justin Long has a standout cameo, and Brandon Routh is very funny too. All the actors work well together, but the chemistry between Banks and Rogan form the most intriguing part of the film. You totally buy that they are friends just like that, and their romance is believable and authentic. It may not be on the level of Holden and Amy, but it is convincing. I hope this combination is renewed at some point in the near future.

This film relies on bodily humor a lot more than Smith’s other films. It all works though, with the exception of an inexplicable gag that makes Kinky Kelly and the Sexy Stud seem almost tasteful. Smith pushes the R rating to the absolute limit. I am actually quite shocked that it received that rating. I think the overall appeal of the film and the fact that all the graphic stuff is made for comedic effect gave it a better shot at its eventual rating.

It is strange to think that this is a Kevin Smith film though. It has all the Smith dialogue and coarse humor, but it really seems like it could be the next in line of the Apatow productions. This is especially evident in the fact that all the actors, with the exception of Anderson, Mewes, and the porn stars, are Apatow regulars. Smith essentially borrowed those actors from Apatow and made a film that would likely fit well into his filmography. It is interesting to think about, but who can blame him? Would Brian O’Halloran have fit in as Zack? Nope. Would Joey Lauren Adams have worked as Miri? Well, that one would have been fine about 10 years ago. All of that aside, the cast is flawlessly put together. All of the actors have brilliant comedic timing, and they make for some of the most fun you will have at the movies this year.

Smith’s soft side is in full scope here, even though it is the most extreme premise. Zack and Miri have never slept together, so they find it very hard, though they will not admit to each other, to do it on screen. Smith has previously proved that he can really pull off a great love story with his masterpiece Chasing Amy. This love story does not work as well as that one, but you do begin to feel for these characters. A film with the title like this one, you probably do not expect too much heart. What would a Kevin Smith film be without it, though? It would just be...well, Mallrats. Even that is not bad though. It is mindless fun, but this is something more. It follows a typical romantic comedy formula, but takes it to the extreme, and the genre may never be the same. Kevin Smith can do no wrong as far as I am concerned. He definitely thrives in his Askewniverse, but with this and Jersey Girl, he is proving that he is not a one trick pony. Coming next for him is Red State, a horror flick. Bring it on.

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