Review of Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008) by Timothy S — 24 Nov 2011

Kevin Smith has long since been a favorite writer and director of mine since he made his very impressive debut with "Clerks", but he's been on something of a slump for a few years now. "Zack and Miri Make a Porno", his latest, is audacious enough to win over new undiscriminating fans, but it's as likely to disappoint his die-hard followers as much as it did me.

There are a number of laughs here, and some very appealing performances, but much like "Clerks 2", the film comes off as desperate more than anything else. Smith's films have always been filled with frank, sexually explicit dialogue, but it always had a ring of truth to it. There is some of that here, and Seth Rogen and the radiant Elizabeth Banks do a wonderful job of creating a relaxed, comfortable relationship on screen. You honestly feel that they've been as close as they say they have been.

But there are a number of visual, gross-out moments that are unnecessary and feel forced. Still, casting rising superstar Banks as his female lead was a smart move, as she is clearly the best thing in the picture. She pulls off the impossible by being totally gorgeous, but goofy and normal at the same time. She feels like a real person, the kind Smith used to write all the time. Then he seemed to sell out and crave commercial success. He may never write anything as brilliant as "Chasing Amy" again, and that makes me very sad.

There are some great moments in "Zack and Miri Make a Porno" that made me long for those days again. I did laugh, but I wanted some real emotion here as well. It tries, but it's a case of too little too late.