Movie Review: Zack and Miri Make a Porno, victims of Subprime mortgage loans go out in mass to buy Camcorders

"They're upset 'cause I only fall in love with one woman in this movie," Seth Rogen jokes to Jay Leno regarding his fim, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, being banned in Salt Lake City. Rogen goes on to say he thinks it's odd for them to ban Zack and Miri (a romantic comedy), considering they have no qualms with showing Saw V, a movie franchise based on people being forced to brutally torture themselves. Sex is where Salt Lake draws the line, but they appear to be alone in their moral reprehension of the film. Zack and Miri is a relative hit landing in the number two spot in box offices this weekend (although some might attribute this to an alarming lack of better choices. Plus HSM3 is what nabbed the number one spot...). This must be good news to Kevin Smith's ears, whose last movie, Jersey Girl, was a huge flop. He also recently did Clerks II, but its success was inevitable, given it was the sequel to the movie that made him a directing legend and voice of the "slacker" generation. It was by sifting through the stars from the now infamous Judd Apatow crew though, that Smith was able to come back from the lifeless Jersey Girl and make a romantic comedy that actually resonates, sort of. In the wake of the country's ever deepening financial crisis, the movie can even be viewed as relevant. "I see it more as a a do-it-yourself annual than anything else," laughs Rogen to Leno. 

The movie doesn't stray from it's straightforward title for a second. Zack and Miri, two best friends since the first grade, are making a porno for some much needed money, and you're invited to watch their awkward realization that they're more than just friends. Stars Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, and Craig Robinson all hail from Apatowland, a place where nerds are cool and the funny guy always gets the girl. Judd Apatow may not have invented this concept, but he has run with it and taken the comedy genre by storm. But lest we forget, this isn't Apatow's movie.

Smith once said that he thinks of every movie he's ever made as a snapshot of his life at the time, but with Zack and Miri, it's more of a look back. "This movie is kind of a dressed up version about how we made Clerks," says Smith during an interview. "It's about a bunch of people who don't know anything about film, getting together to make a movie." As for the concept of DIY porn, Rogen says, "Anyone can do this." With half the people just out of college currently unemployed, who knows... we might start to see them pop up in our spam folder (but let's hope life doesn't imitate art). Ultimately the movie is very Kevin Smith; Slackers, cursing and a simplistic moral message (this one being sex is never as good without love). Zack and Miri might have its fair share of nudity (porn star Katie Morgan shows off her skills), and profanity as per usual, but it's ultimately about camaraderie (another Smith standard). People who barely know each other come together to help Zack and Miri with their insane brainchild. More than wanting to see them succeed, you really want to see how much fun they had. Afterall, anything that makes being poor/broke look like fun, is highly sought after in our current economy. There's a great scene where you see their first porno attempt entitled Star Whores, and it honestly makes you want to grab your lightsaber (that's what she said) and join them. However being that this is a Smith production, most of the movie feels overly simulated to the point of exhaustion. Basically we've seen it before and we'll see it again, but with Rogen manning the helm, we're likely to walk out the theater with a smile on our face. 

Rogen is now an official glittering comedy star. It's no surprise that Smith saw him in Virgin, fell in love and decided he had to write a movie for this guy. Rogen had often spoke about his lifelong dream to work with Smith, and says now that has happened, he can die. When it came time to cast the role of Miri, Rogen made a casting suggestion to Smith, and he jumped on it. "Banks has been Hollywood's best kept secret for a long time," says Smith during an interview. "But now the secret's out." Elizabeth Banks has played hilarious bit parts in movies like Wet Hot American Summer, 40 Year Old Virgin, and Catch Me If You Can, but with Zack and Miri, Role Models and W. all coming out in the last month, her name has finally made it to household status. I cannot think of anyone more deserving of the recognition. It's not every day you find a woman who is funny as she is knock-dead gorgeous. Apart from Miri, Zack needed another partner in crime, a producer/investor for their skin flick. Enter Craig Robinson, who began to get notice for his role as Darryl on The Office. He's done three movies with the Apatow crew, most recently playing a hitman in the sidesplitting Pineapple Express, but he still continues to get cast as bit part characters. Until we see more, Robinson is one trick pony at the moment. We laugh when he says "titties," but can't he do more? With so many Apatow veterans, you might forget it's a Kevin Smith movie (which has probably widened his audience), but then you see Jason Mewes (aka - Jay) and you remember.

What's clear from the beginning is that Zack and Miri are perfect for each other, but it takes gettin' it on in front of the camera to realize it. Their sex scene is the sweetest, least pornographic scene of the movie, and it's worth the wait (maybe not for the guys 'cause there's no naked Banks, but your girlfriend will love it). Overall the movie is about on par with Knocked Up, but dirtier, and just like in Knocked Up with its Cirque Du Soleil on acid sequence, Zack and Miri has a unique laugh out loud scene too. Guest stars Justin Long (Galaxy Quest) and Brandon Routh (Superman Returns) play a gay adult film star Brandon St. Randy and his boyfriend Bobby Long in attendance at Zack and Miri's ten-year high school reunion. It is one of the only improvised scenes of the movie was by far the funniest. My biggest complaint about the film was that Justin Long wasn't in more of it. 

Short and Sweet

Zack and Miri Make a Porno covers love, friendship, and creativity under the guise of a sex comedy. Comedic timing is spot on for all of the leads. Seth Rogen returns as the scheming schlub and Elizabeth Banks is the gorgeous girl who loves him anyway. It's got the Kevin Smith stamp on it from start to finish, so it's best not expect the world. Great date movie if the girl has a good sense of humor. Justin Long is a stand out. You almost want to see a movie just about his character. 

Overall I liked it a lot despite its lack of surprises (except for one [and that doesn't mean it's good]), but perhaps with more Justin screen time it could have been better. 

Fav Quotes

"I'll be your sherpa up the mountain of gayness." - Brandon St. Randy

"Don't thank me, just fuck me." - Miri Linky

(hope you like the first review! let me know what you think, i'm looking for ways to improve format etc.)