“Zack and Miri Make a Porno” … Kevin Smith + Seth Rogan = how did no one think of this before?
In “Zack and Miri Make a Porno,” the two life-long friends played by Seth Rogen (like you don’t know who he is) and Elizabeth Banks (you may remember from “40-Year-Old Virgin,” as well as recent roles in “W.” and “Role Models”) are having some trouble paying their bills…
By: Brendan Schaller
Kevin Smith tried to make a movie that diverted from his usual cast and style back in 2004 with “Jersey Girl” (starring Ben Affleck and Liv Tyler). This film didnt go so well. Then he made a major comeback by reprising the characters from the film that started it all and brought us “Clerks 2.”
“Clerks 2” achieved Smiths goal: to make something as funny as always, but with a mature, grown-up twist. Now, hes broken free of his usual environment (New Jersey) and set his newest film in a much more glamorous place (Monroeville, Pennsylvania…), and hes brought only a small few regulars back and no past roles. Here they do the only Smith has yet to do on screen, make a porno.
In “Zack and Miri Make a Porno,” the two life-long friends played by Seth Rogen (like you don’t know who he is) and Elizabeth Banks (you may remember from “40-Year-Old Virgin,” as well as recent roles in “W.” and “Role Models”) are having some trouble paying their bills. When they attend their 10-year high school reunion and Miri finds out that her old high school crush is now dating a male-porn star (Justin Long of “Waiting” and “Accepted” in a hilarious cameo), Zack gets the bright idea to hire some nobodies and film a porno to sell. After their first plan, “Star Whores” gets foiled, they try something even more low-budget filming it after hours at the coffee shop where Zack works. Before long, they’re all on the road to making it, but things get a bit awkward between Zack and Miri when they have their first sexual encounter with each other after a lifetime of friendship.
The plot is pretty typical of Smith’s style. It builds ups this hilarious idea, only to sort of trickle off at a certain point, get real serious real fast, and then all come together in the end. The style of comedy is the same too, except its a bit raunchier than usual & dont go see this with your parents or younger siblings. I mean what would you expect from a movie that has the words make a porno in the title? Seth Rogen adds his own blend of comedic gold that hes used to touch some of the most profitable movies in recent years. In the end, Smith brings that shiny feeling of happiness and romantic comedy to this outrageous plot. We’ve seen him do it many times in the past, and this is no exception. What can only be described as a very different form of romantic comedy, “Zack and Miri” is surely something youll have to see for yourself. No kids, no Jay and Silent Bob, but Jason Mewes (Jay) does give a funny performance, along with Jeff Anderson (Randall from the “Clerks” films) and Craig Robinson (Darryl from “The Office”). Oh, and dont leave before the credits have finished. It’s worth waiting.
