Perhaps one of the most aptly named films to come along in a long time, Zack and Miri Make a Porno allows director and writer Kevin Smith to explore the tricky territory of “friends with benefits.”
Best friends since forever, Zack (Seth Rogen) and Miri (Penn alum Elizabeth Banks) run into hard times and resort to the wonderful world of adult entertainment to keep themselves afloat. Along the way, they vow that sex will not change their friendship. Yeah, like that ever works.
Smith’s delicious dialogue titillates the audience with dick/boob jokes and vulgar language. The film was originally rated NC-17, which should give you an idea of the raunchiness on display here. The debauchery doesn’t seem to cross the line, however, and the film impressively lands almost every gag.
On loan from Judd Apatow, Seth Rogen turns in another adorable teddy-bear-performance as Zack, a guy so likeable even your mother wouldn’t mind his toilet mouth. He has remarkable chemistry with Elizabeth Banks, whose Miri is the heart of the film. Miri’s revelation of her feelings for Zack combines the perfect ratio of shock and giddiness to make the film’s central relationship believable and touching. Additionally, the supporting cast is instantly endearing — if you ever needed to have sex for money, you’d want to do it with these people. And a special mention must be made for Mac guy Justin Long's scene-stealing cameo as a rising gay porn star.
Kevin Smith returns in fine form and, despite the over-the-top lewdness, reveals his closet-romantic status. Like most of Smith’s movies, beneath the scatological jokes there is a moral, and this one is sure to warm the cockles (forgive us) of every viewer’s heart.
