Some films’ titles are worthless if you want to get an idea of the plot (see: Blue Velvet, O Brother Where Art Thou), while others give a pretty quick glimpse into the main idea of the movie (Anchorman, 40-Year-Old Virgin). But few cut to the chase like Kevin Smith’s Zack and Miri Make a Porno, whose title alone makes you wonder if you’d be better off saving $8.75 since you’ve already got the plot down.
Really, though, if you are the type who isn’t immediately turned off by the crudeness of the film’s title, you’re probably excited enough about the pairing of Smith and Seth Rogen, two of the smartest juvenile comics in the film industry, to drop your nine dollars to check it out.
The pairing of the two-the film’s biggest draw-seems almost overdue, with Smith’s knack for mixing down-and-out losers with preposterous situations, and Rogen’s knack for playing the loser who finds himself in the midst of the fray. The two also know when to make things a little bit sweet, making Zack and Miri the epitome of what a pairing of these two comedic forces should be. The story follows Zack and Miri, best friends for years, as they attempt to make a skin flick after their finances take a turn for the worse. Hilarity ensues, and, maybe, love does, too.
It’s unfortunate for Smith that Judd Apatow has recently taken his game up a notch, making his preposterous situations slightly more real and his characters far more likable. So Smith’s first work with Rogen feels like Apatow-light, an entry that comes a few years too late and with a less impressive script.
Which is a shame because Rogen puts on as great of a performance as usual (though his shtick feels a bit formulaic at times), while Elizabeth Banks shines as Miri in one of her first leading roles. The Office’s Craig Robinson also puts in one of his best efforts yet (second only to his questioning thug in “Pineapple Express”), playing Zack’s dejected co-worker at the coffee shop.
Although I’m used to seeing these actors take on slacker personas in their work for Apatow, Smith’s particular outlook reveals itself in his characters’ bitterness. A central scene in the film takes places at Zack and Miri’s high school reunion, a scene which was likely influenced by Smith’s own feelings about his alma mater-few people are happy to be there, and the only ones who show up are in nice suits. The scene highlights one of the central differences between the two directors: while Apatow may have some awkward moments, they are always fleeting and immediately funny; in Zack and Miri, the situations are awkward long enough to be the focal point, coming off with a different kind of humor.
Although Smith’s own voice shines through, at the end of the day, the film still has that “raunchy chick flick” appeal that Apatow has been milking since his 40-Year-Old Virgin success. If you’ve liked any of the movies in that canon (Wedding Crashers, Knocked Up), then Zack and Miri will definitely be your cup of tea-it’s both raunchier and more of a chick flick than any of those films. Just not quite as funny.
