ZACK AND MIRI MAKE A PORNO

Isn't the sex industry a very lucrative industry to be apart of? Well, if you think about it for a moment, what other industry do you know where you can earn cash, get your leg over, and look at a lot of pretty people getting jiggy with it. Politics maybe? Possibly? I best ask Director: Kevin Smith; and Actors: Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, Jason Mewes, and Jeff Anderson. But only in the year 2008, and for 101-minutes.


Zack and Miri Make a Porno

THE STORY:

Pennsylvanian housemates, Zack and Miri (Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks), are currently in a right mess. Zack hates his job working in a coffee-shop. Miri gets her ass shown all over the internet. And collectively, they haven't got a pot to piss in - financially speaking of course.

However, after an eventful school reunion, where Miri attempts to hit on one of her old school friends, who look's like a gay version of Superman, Bobby Long (Brandon Routh), Zack comes up with a solution to their fiscal problem. No - it isn't anything to do with selling drugs' to Ben Affleck. Instead, Zack explains to Miri that they should make a porno together.

Yes. That's right. I said 'porno'. Crazy idea, huh? Hmm. Maybe? But still, it is an idea that they then attempt to put in motion.

For a start, Zack manages to persuades two of his pals', Delaney and Deacon (Craig Robinson and Jeff Anderson), to aide him financially and professionally with this venture. Next, they rent out an old disused garage, so that they can record their movie in it. After that, they hold a number of casting sessions, and hire a team of pretty-people, to co-star in this production with them, Lester, Bubbles, Stacey, and Barry (Jason Mewes, Traci Lords, Katie Morgan and Ricky Mabe). And finally, both Zack and Miri decide on a theme for this porn-opus, "Star-Whores", just in time for lights, camera, and action.

Boy-oh-boy! Isn't this exciting? Especially since Zack and Miri have never f*cked each other before!

No - not really.

You see, on the first day of shooting, their 'recording studio' turns to rubble. Plus in addition to this, these two housemates start to see each other in a very different light.

Nevertheless, through divine inspiration, Zack suddenly comes to the realisation that he can now use his place of work, the coffee house, to make this porno in. Moreover, once the camera begins rolling, all seems to go according to plan too. Err, that is until love and lust gets confused within the sight of tit's and ass.

Still, that is most probably why what next transpires is a right pain in the porn I can tell you. As friend's f*ck - parties suck - lovers drift - and reunions come with a special gift.

Dutch runner, anyone? 

THE REVIEW:

In a very strange way, 'Zack and Miri Make a Porno', feels like one of the most personal stories ever created by writer / director, Kevin Smith. You see, being a big Kevin Smith fan, as I am, I could tell in certain places where pieces of his personal life has spilled out into this film. For example: (1) He recorded his first movie, Clerks [click here for the review], in a place where he worked. (2) He feels that his wife, Jen, is one of his closest friends. (3) His buddy, Jason Mews, did cameo in a porno in the past. (4) He likes to keep a stock company of friends and pals around him on his projects. And (5) He has a beard.

OK, I know that I could present to you a bit more trivia relating to this flick, and how it is associated with Kevin's past. But you don't want that, right? Instead, you want some more film based trivia: (1) Allegedly, this film was approved by 'The Weinstein Company' solely on the title alone. (2) Kevin originally devised this project to be shot in Minnesota, where he shot 'Mallrats'. But because of financial reasons, he decided to shoot it in Pittsburgh instead, where he shot 'Dogma'. (3) Writer / Director, Kevin Smith, wrote the role of Zack with Seth Rogen in mind, and he would not have made it if Seth didn't come on board. (4) The movie had to be edited twice due to its install 'NC-17' rating. On appeal, the final cut ultimately received an 'R' rating. (5) The part of Miri was originally written for Rosario Dawson in mind. Regrettably, though, she had to decline this offer because she was cast in the Steven Spielberg film, 'Eagle Eye'. (6) In real life, Seth is ten years younger than Elizabeth Banks. (7) In the movie, Zach suggests to the gang that they should make a porn version of 'Star Trek'. In real life, co-star, Katie Morgan, did, in 'Sex Trek - Where No Man Has Cum B4'. (8) F*ck was said 229 times in this flick. And (9) In nigh on all of Kevin's films, their is always at least one 'Star Wars' related reference made. This one was the best though.

Well, now that I have board you senseless with both facts and trivia, how do you think I feel about 'Zack and Miri Make a Porno', huh? Confused? Discussed? Ashamed? Kinky? No - no - no - and... errr, yes, kind of.

Please note, in my most humble opinion, this is one of the best films that Kevin has ever made, and is up their with both the 'Clerk' movies (click here for review), 'Dogma', and 'Chasing Amy'. Honestly, the story is so well written, that it lends itself to pathos, comedy, and one of the best alternate rom-com's I have ever seen. Also, I have to say that the entire cast are at the top of their game as well, and make this flick into a very nice slice of cinema. Jay is his ever adorable self. Seth and Elizabeth do make the love story work. Craig is the key that turns the lock. Plus Traci, Katie, Ricky, Jeff, Brandon, and Justin, are all supporting players that really supported this flick.

Heck, the only flaw that I can find with this movie, was that strange three month segway that popped up out of the blue near the end of it - as that was kind of drastic as a lead up to a resolution, huh? Oh! And I would have liked Kevin to be in this film too - even if it was just a slight cameo or something.

Still, overall, this movie was a class Kevin Smith related instalment to his pantheon of films, and is one of his most funniest, personal, and touching ones thereof. So what do you say to that gang?

OK, f*ck you then!

THE RATING: A