ZACK AND MIRI MAKE A PORNO: REVIEW
'Zack
and Miri Make a Porno', is not entirely how it sounds - however, with a title
like that, you must know what to expect when lining up to buy a ticket. Running
a fine line of what is considered adult entertainment, director Kevin Smith makes
fun of the adult film industry while combining fluffy romance traits. How you
may ask? Well this is the man who has made juvenile cult gems such as 'Clerks'
and 'Mallrats'.
Childhood friends Zack and Miri live together
platonically but can barely make the rent. They often substitute bill payments
for frivolous pleasures like sex toys or hockey sticks and have an attitude to
life that becomes too carefree for their own good. The pair are invited to a high
school reunion and reluctantly go. Zack constantly makes sarcastic remarks to
his old school yard compatriots, while Miri is just intent on meeting up with
the hot jock and her first first crush. Unfortunately, he is now a gay porn star
who along with his partner, make six figures in the industry. All of a sudden,
Zack announces his idea of making his own adult film after dark inside the coffee
shop in where he works. Miri joins in the crusade and helps employ both friends
and a couple of questionable females (actual adult film starlets Traci Lords &
Katie Morgan).
Initial setbacks aside, there is a planned scene
with both Zack and Miri performing but emotional trouble lurks and they can't
understand why. Life changing lessons of the warm and emotional kind are not usually
part of the pornographic system but both Zack and Miri could be meant for each
other. Romantic minded viewers expecting a 'normal' chick flick are in for a surprise.
Cheap laughs are the order of the day with an array of gross out moments, one
including some rather inappropriate bubbles.
Director Smith
is incredibly acute in wry observations of all involved. He also uses an abundance
of pop culture recreations such as a smutty version of 'Star Wars' which is a
highlight to this stop start comedy. The script calls for some heart warming moments.
Both leads Seth Rogan and Elizabeth Banks are a quality pair without inhibitions
which helps proceedings flow into a degree of believability.
A
cameo by the new 'Superman', Brandon Routh, is completely left of centre and while
he was spouting good dating advice in 'He's Just Not That Into You', Justin Long,
also has an hilarious cameo that is bound to become cult and regularly quoted.
His gay moviemaker role is an instant classic moment.
This
is an enjoyable mainstream sex comedy that pushes boundaries and questionable
outcomes. However, the jokes sustain the energy of all involved. Beware of the
bubbles!
Shane A. Bassett
