Review - Zack and Miri Make a Porno

Lifelong and platonic friends, Zack and Miri are desperately struggling to keep up with the rent and their mountain of past due bills. On the eve of Thanksgiving, both their power and water are shut off. The two friends brainstorm, coming to the decision that making a porno film should solve all their money problems. Once the cameras are rolling however, the two quickly realize that their friendship may be something much stronger, something that they have both been denying for years.


Kevin Smith directs a hilarious story that has alot of heart mixed with some really side splitting smut. Clearly, with "Porno" in the title you know from the start your in for some nudity and raunchy humor, Smith however does a great job of not overloading the viewer with nudity and vulgarity. Instead, he relys heavily on a couple of his finer qualities of film making, dialogue and character development. Kevin Smith is a genius at writting dialogue that just feels natural and once again Smith delivers a script filled with polished dialogue, matched with perfect deliveries from the entire cast. Smith with Zack and Miri, stepped outside of his New Jersey and the Snoochie Boochie box and delivered simply, a great romantic comedy.

The entire cast of Zack and Miri Make a Porno is unfailing in their hilarity throughout the film. Everybody brings their own identity and believability that really combines for a outstanding collaborative effort. Seth Rogen as Zack, delivers yet again a flawless performance. Kevin Smith actually wrote Zack and Miri with Seth Rogen in mind and Rogen perfectly rolls out his usual deadpan delivery that has in past roles fatigued, but here in the character created by Smith remains fresh. Elizabeth Banks is also very good in her portrayal of Miri. Banks delivers big time in the sweetness factor throughout the film and does a credible job of handling Smith's naturally fast-lipped dialogue.

Craig Robinson steals Zack and Miri Make a Porno hands down with his character and performance. Robinson is delightfully comical with his deliverance and absolutely proves that he can carry a comedic film. While Robinson isn't given the best dialogue in Zack and Miri, he genuinely flourishes in each of his scenes. His character is by far the most memorable from the whimsical romantic comedy and he and Seth Rogen create the "ebony and ivory" of deadpan humor.

Kevin Smith still felt the need to hold on to a couple of his "go-to" actors Jason Mewes and Jeff Anderson. While it would have been refreshing to see a Kevin Smith alumni-free film, both Anderson and Mewes give memorable performances and prove why Smith went to his security blanket of actors. Mewes spends a majority of his screen time nude and doing simulated sex for the porno, but has some great one-liners that provide some great laughs. Rounding out the awesome cast, Justin Long plays the gay lover of Brandon Routh who was the star quarterback for his high school. At the high school reunion, Zack and Miri meet Long and Routh and it is probably one of the strongest scenes within Zack and Miri. Justin Long is ridiculously priceless as the gay adult film star who sparks Zack's idea of producing his own porn film. Brandon Routh, who is primarily known for his role as Superman, is equally notable as the closeted homosexual.

It's no secret that the subject of Zack and Miri is making a porno. The adult film industry has become far more mainstream as of late but is still considered taboo, that being said, Kevin Smith handles the delicate material effortlessly. Sure there is nudity and sex in Zack and Miri, but none of it is even sexual, instead all of the sexual content is handled comically. The nudity becomes irrelevant because the film has you laughing so hard. Even the highly talked of MPAA scene, so poignantly dubbed the "frosting" scene, is shockingly disgusting but done so whimsically you instantly laugh it off.

Zack and Miri Make a Porno is a delightfully heartfelt comedy that see's Kevin Smith take a small step outside of his usual shtick and reminds us how great of a writer and director he is. Smith borrowed a few of Apatow alumni's actors and used them to create an uproarious comedy that Smith can stand proudly behind. Seth Rogen is coming close to overkill these days being in just about 3 comedies a year, but here in Zack and Miri he is droll and does a flawless job of creating laugh inducing moments throughout. Finally, Zack and Miri Make a Porno is a riotous comedy that will have you gasping for air from all the laughing, while simultaneously warming your heart with the sweet love story.