Tapping into the endless humor of parody porn, Kevin Smith has successfully pulled off a hilarious romantic comedy. Yes, romantic! Past all the light saber dildos and fart jokes, the core of this film is a love story. "Zack and Miri Make a Porno" is invested in the difference between bumping uglies and making love, and as it is still a Smith film, there are still plenty of "Star Wars" references and potty humor to satisfy his geeky fan base.
Zack (played by Seth Rogan) and Miri (Elizabeth Banks) are best friends and roommates. When faced with mounting debt and the risk of being kicked out of their apartment, they find themselves in a bind. Zack suggests that because of their lack of ambition, dignity and other options they should make a homemade porno to get fast cash. The two agree that because they will only be having sex for money, it means nothing and everything will be okay between them afterwards.
Zack's co-worker Delaney (Craig Robinson) finances the production and begrudgingly agrees to check out the women during the audition process. The successful audition brings aboard several uniquely talented porn stars, including the very quick-to-lift-off Lester (Jason Mewes), the gorgeous bombshell Stacey (adult film icon Katie Morgan) and the kinky Bubbles (Traci Lords). While preparing for "Star Whores," Zack and Miri start to wonder what having sex with each other will do to their friendship. Sex, as we all know, complicates everything.
Though Rogan and Banks make for an unlikely couple, their on-screen chemistry is undeniable. Sparks fly during their love scene, which is one of the more tasteful of the copious sex scenes featured in the film.
"Zack and Miri" showcases the usual cast of quirky characters from Smith's other productions, including Mewes, as well as several former porn stars. Traci Lords, best known for her arrest after working as an underage porn star, does a great job mocking the industry that made her infamous. Justin Long's performance is noteworthy, as he steals the entire movie with his brief appearance as the gay porn star, Brandon. Every line Long utters is hysterical due to his flawless delivery.
Smith is a writer first and a director second. His writing in "Zack and Miri" is some of the best comedy in recent years -- yes, even better than Judd Apatow's films. It is to his credit that he has made a name for himself through his ability to mix sexual and potty humor with heart and emotion.
Smith, in fact, is responsible for single-handedly reintroducing pop culture sexual slang like "snowball" and "donkey show" back into the mainstream lexicon. This time around it is the "Dutch rudder."
Because Smith was able to overturn an NC-17 rating through the Motion Picture Association of America's appeals process, he did not have to change a single word or scene. Every expletive, every thrust and every nude scene is there.
Make no mistake; this film is not for virgin eyes and ears. It is, however, a graduation from Smith's previous films like "Clerks" (1994) and "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" (2001), which showcase the humor of a 15-year-old pothead.
"Zack and Miri" shows a certain maturity in his direction and writing. The film will definitely offend those who are opposed to pornography, but those are probably the kind of people who wouldn't buy a ticket to something with the word porno in the title anyway.
"Zack and Miri Make a Porno" is certainly one of the year's raunchiest films, but it is also incredibly funny and heart warming. It is ultimately an old-fashioned romantic comedy, this time brought about through homemade porn.
