ZACK AND MIRI MAKE A PORNO

Moving from friendship to romance can be tricky -- especially on the set of your own adult film. Zack and Miri Make a Porno, the latest film from Kevin Smith, divides itself, unevenly, between a sweet romance and laughs at making an adult film.

Platonic friends and roommates Zack (Seth Rogan) and Miri (Elizabeth Banks) have a massive pile of bills and their power and water turned off. After their high school reunion, and talking with gay porn actor Brandon (Justin Long), the two friends decide to make their own porno, using the class mailing last as their first potential customers.


In almost no time Zack and Miri have assembled everything for their movie. Zack's fellow coffee server Delaney (Craig Robinson), a henpecked husband, is their producer. Apart from putting themselves in their film, Zack and Miri wind up with Bubbles (Traci Lords, going from infamous porn star to b-movie actress to big movie actress playing an adult entertainer), Barry (Ricky Mabe), Lester (Jason Mewes), and Stacey (Katie Morgan). Their cameraman is Deacon (Jeff Anderson), picked because he videotaped football games in high school.

The big question is how making the film will affect Zack and Miri -- especially since they're supposed to sleep with other, and then other people, in the film. Sadly, this will-they-or-won't-they romatic element is the weak point of the film. When it comes to romance, Kevin Smith directs the very capable Seth Rogan and Elizabeth Banks with zero subtlety. The actors look longingly when thinking of each other, and they look angry when imagining their "just a friend" gettin' it on with someone else.

Skipping the romance, Zack and Miri Make a Porno has plenty of laughs. Kevin Smith has said in interviews that this movie is largely based on making Clerks with no budget or professionals, and there are numerous times when we get the arduous process of filmmaking. (When Zack reassured Miri, "It's a movie. What could go wrong?" we know what'll happen next.) There's plenty of cheesy fun with the porno-within-the-movie being made, and the actors are willing to make themselves look and act ridiculous for comedy.

Zack and Miri Make a Porno is definitely an adult comedy -- plenty of male and female nudity, plus simulated sex -- and Kevin Smith follows the contunues blending gross-out humor with care for his characters. I'd have been happier if the romantic plot/subplot was handled with more subtlety, but I had a good time at Zack and Miri Make a Porno. (And stay through the credits for the real ending to the movie!)

Overall grade: B
Reviewed by James Lynch