Review of Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008) by Tyler M — 31 Mar 2012

FINALLY! It's about damned time Kevin Smith makes a movie that's even remotely good.

Okay, it's obvious I'm not fan of Smith, in fact I can't stand him, and I would like to point out, he's not the reason this movie is good... He's actually employed good actors this time around... Well, funny ones anyway.

When Zack and Miri go broke, they decide to make a porno, hence the title... There's really nothing more to it than that. It follows them as they build up a cast and crew, and follows their misadventures in the industry... Expect a lot of sex, it's the nature of the title, expect a lot of CRUDE humor, it's the nature of the dirivitive writer/director, and expect an overbearing amount of licensed "hip-underground-rock" music, with that that oh-so cliche "porno music". I'm sure that somewhere in this script lies a "message" and a true "love story", but really it just boils down sex joke after sex joke after sex joke. Fans of Smith will of course gobble it up like it's their first meal in years, the rest of us will be more passive as it's more or less, just another Kevin Smith movie. It does have it's moments that will make you laugh and there is a bit of a love story to be had, but it's just overshadowed by trying to coin phrases like "she frosted me like a f***ing cake" or "dutch rudder".

Seth Rogan is Zack, standard Seth Rogan fair, he plays the same character you've already seen 10 times over. That's not a bad thing though, because as it turns out, he's a funny guy. Elizabeth Banks is Miri, fun-loving miri... Standard Smith character, a blonde who's not afraid to have sex with multiple partners... A good performance though... Jason Mewes also shows up, because of course what's a Smith film without him? Really. Better than previous performances as Jay, but really nothing you haven't seen before... Well maybe a little you haven't seen before, but not in a good way... Craig Robinson makes a notable appearance as Delany... He's the films black guy, because the film had too many white people... That sounds bad, and I mean absolutely no offense by it, but really other than Gerry Bednob he's the only one that isn't white as white can be... He is funny though, and is a very welcome addition to the cast.

One to Five Scale: 4... When I left the theater... 3 when I sat down to write this... 2 by the time I was done and realized that it really is nothing new at all... It's the same stuff we've seen before, that only exists to push the proverbial envelope and walk the figurative line... Fans will love it, others not so much... That's why the beginning of the review is positive and the end is negative.

Though if you're fan of Rogan, you'll find enough to warrant at least one viewing... Or if you just want to see boobs.