Zack and Miri Make a Porno Starring Seth Rogan, Elizabeth Banks and Jason Mewes Directed by… Zack and Miri Make a Porno Starring Seth Rogan, Elizabeth Banks and Jason Mewes Directed by Kevin Smith View Askew Studios B+’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Think of it as the feel-good porno film of the year, no pun intended. ‘ ‘ ‘ If you’ve been aching for that added touch of romantic sentiment in your skin flicks, then Kevin Smith’s latest effort will ease your pain. ‘ ‘ ‘ Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past month, you’ll know ‘Zack and Miri Make a Porno’ isn’t actually porn ‘mdash; it’s about two roommates, and their misfit friends, who make one. Yes, there is plenty of sex, and the vulgar language is prominent enough to undoubtedly spark Tipper Gore’s interest, but at it’s core, this is just a romantic-comedy with copious sex and nudity tacked on. ‘ ‘ ‘ The two title characters live in a meager apartment in Pittsburgh, and in a particularly relatable set of circumstances given the current economy, and find themselves so backed up on bill payments their utilities are turned off and eviction is eminent. ‘ ‘ ‘ Zack’s (Seth Rogen) solution to their financial woes? Make a porno starring himself and Miri (Elizabeth Banks). ‘ ‘ ‘ Before delving into the adult film business, Zack and Miri are presented as depressingly average 20-somethings. Basically, they’re the losers most college students fear they will become after graduation, and unfortunately, it’s a sad reality that not everyone becomes rich just by attaining a college degree. ‘ ‘ ‘ A hilarious high school reunion scene reminds Zack and Miri of this, and it is especially cringe-inducing to watch Miri try to seduce her recently gay, high school jock crush (Brandon Routh). The crush’s porn star boyfriend is amusingly played by Justin Long. ‘ ‘ ‘ It is this boyfriend who plants the idea in Zack’s head, and off the film goes down the Yellow Dick Road. ‘ ‘ ‘ The scenario is ridiculous-plausible in a ‘Weeds’ sort of way. The audience knows that things will work themselves out eventually, thus, the means to the end are forgivably justifiable, however ludicrous they may be. ‘ ‘ ‘ Predictable sequences ensue where the friends audition actors, pick a theme and title for the movie (‘Star Whores,’ anyone?) and finally shoot their film at Zack’s place of employment, a Starbucks-esque coffee shop that doubles as a porno set by night. ‘ ‘ ‘ All of these are minor contrivances, as the driving narrative force is the sex scene Zack and Miri agree to do together. They are best friends, and in the midst of boobs and fornication, the film quite blatantly becomes a study of the politics of sex between friends. ‘ ‘ ‘ Rogen and Banks, who is easily one of the most prominent actresses of this fall’s movie season, share a chemistry that will be familiar to anyone who has a good friend of the opposite sex. They are so comfortable with each other that romantic developments that could otherwise come across as sappy and contrived shift into oddly tender territory. ‘ ‘ ‘ The supporting cast keeps the film’s comedic pulse steady. Jason Mewes, a Smith staple, is the main male lead in Zack and Miri’s film, and his utter weirdness is simultaneously endearing and off-putting. Two real porn actresses, the infamous Traci Lords and current star Katie Morgan, appear in the film and prove that their acting abilities go beyond moaning and that they possess true comedic talent. ‘ ‘ ‘ To describe the comedic sequences and best bits of dialogue would be to ruin much of the fun in the movie, and because the film was shot in Pittsburgh, it should be especially intriguing for a Pitt audience. Looking for familiar landmarks in the film provides added amusement. ‘ ‘ ‘ The jokes land head-on almost every time, with a few extremely notable exceptions. Without going into detail, I think it’s safe to say that anal sex is not and has never been funny. And if it was before, abandon all hope ye who don’t turn your heads away in time. You’ll see what I mean. ‘ ‘ ‘ On that note, this reviewer is far from a prude, but be warned ‘mdash; this film was inches away from being released with an NC-17 rating and is about as crass as it gets. It is undeniably funny, but certainly not for everyone. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Dutch Rudder becomes the next staple of frat houses across the country. ‘ ‘ ‘ As is the case with almost every recent and successful gross-out comedy, there must be some sweet undertone, and in this case, it definitely takes over in the end. Zack and Miri are interesting enough, and their (heavily advertised) filmed sex scene is equal parts awkward, charming and funny, but their story becomes so predictable, the audience almost finds themselves wishing for more vulgarity. I suppose this is as close as anyone will ever get to a romantic-comedy/porno hybrid. ‘ ‘ ‘ If only Julia Roberts had thought of it first.