Best friends since grade school, Zack and Miri are falling on hard times as their financial situation threatens them with eviction. Faced with very few options, they decide to make an adult film parodying Star Wars. As production begins, Zack and Miri begin to realize that their platonic relationship may not be so platonic after all.
Zack and Miri is an R-rated rom-com done right. With a genuinely funny script and a talented cast, there is very little to dislike about this movie. Except for maybe one particular scene regarding a certain sexual position and a poorly placed cameraman. But what would a raunchy, rated R flick be without some disgusting bathroom humor?
Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks have incredible chemistry as BFFs dealing with the possibility of something more. I don’t know what it is about Seth Rogen but he’s really such a lovable, gruffy romantic lead. Elizabeth Banks is wonderfully awkward and charming and you never once doubt their friendship or attraction to each other. The supporting players are just as funny, including Craig Robinson and Kevin Smith staple, Jason Mewes. Justin Long has a bit part as a gay porn star and I have to say, those few minutes he has on screen are the hardest I’ve laughed in a while.
The content itself is probably enough to turn some people off, but honestly, the movie is so much more than what the title implies. Yes, it’s crude but Zack and Miri also harbors a softer, sentimental side. The romance is sweet, but not so much so that you end up with a toothache. Smith does a great job at blending the romance into the story, ensuring that the movie never loses its edge. The most important aspect of this movie is Zack and Miri’s friendship, more so than their deeper feelings of love and I love that Smith takes the time to build their platonic relationship rather than just tossing them into bed together or instigating jealousy from the get-go.
I recall seeing this in the theaters way back in 2008 and enjoying it enough that I bought the DVD, but I hadn’t watched it since. This rewatch really reinforced why I wanted to own the movie in the first place and it’s one I’ll likely watch again. Honestly, I adore Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks and they really are the heart and soul of this film. Their chemistry is what makes this movie work as well as it does, otherwise, I feel like it would have been just another throwaway raunch fest.
It’s strange to admit, but I feel like Zack and Miri Make a Porno is probably Kevin Smith’s most mainstream movie besides Jersey Girl. Maybe there’s a lack of cohesion with the tone of the film once Zack and Miri begin to realize their feelings for one another, but it’s still a pretty solid comedy that even those who aren’t into the rom-com genre would probably enjoy. Just make sure you’ve got a very open mind and a strong stomach for… well, I won’t spoil it for you. Just be prepared. If you watch this movie, you’ll know what I’m talking about.
