Z is for Zack and Miri Make A Porno

 And here we are... at Z!  I can't believe I've made it through all 26 letters.  And it wasn't even that hard (if you don't count the little bobble I had at X...)

ZACK AND MIRI MAKE A PORNO

USA, 2008

Running Length: 101 minutes

Cast: Elizabeth Banks, Seth Rogen, Craig Robinson, Jason Mewes, Brandon Routh, Traci Lords, Katie Morgan

Director:  Kevin Smith

Screenplay: Kevin Smith

Cinematography: David Klein

When this film was released it caused quite a stir.  Some cinemas refused to advertise it because of the word ‘porno’ in the title; some cinemas refused to screen it, thinking it was an attempt to slide something smutty onto otherwise pristine screens.  Which is stupid, because despite the title, very little sex is ever shown on screen.

Zack and Miri are roommates and they’re broke.  After a video a friend makes of them goes viral in the Netherlands, they decide to try and make a little cash from their fifteen minutes of fame and make a porno flick.  If it’s successful, they might be able to did themselves out of the financial hole they’re in.  Or at least get the power turned back on.

They recruit a few friends to help them out, and get to work.  But before they can shoot anything, the pair have to get over the fact they’re actually going to have to have sex.  Up until now, their friendship has been purely platonic and they’re both nervous that sex will screw that up.  Although of course, coming from the pen of Kevin Smith, there are far more swear words used in the conveying of this sentiment.

In fact, this has to be one the most cuss-heavy films I’ve ever seen.  I doubt many sentences get through without at least one off color word.  Which isn’t something that bothers me, and frankly, anyone who would be bothered by it probably wouldn’t go to see a film with this title.  So it’s really not worth commenting on.  But there we are…

Kevin Smith is a great writer and, even harder, a great comedy writer.  This film sails along at a great pace, with laughs scattered liberally along the way.  Elizabeth Banks and Seth Rogen are affable leads and you find yourself really rooting for their plan to work out.  In most comedies, you’re lucky if half the jokes hit the mark, but in this one, the percentage is way higher.

Which is why the final third feels like something of a letdown.  It’s the part where the romantic part of the romantic comedy comes into play, and it doesn’t entirely work.  It’s nice that Zack and Miri realize that they’ve been in love all along, but it’s such a predictable ending that it almost feels like cheating.  But given how much riotous entertainment has come before it, we’ll forgive Mr. Smith.  This time.