Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008)

Zack and Miri Make a Porno, starring Seth Rogan, Elizabeth Banks, and Jason Mewes, brings a classic Kevin Smith back to fans.

Zack and Miri are longtime friends and current roommates who have fallen into a financial rut – Miri works at the mall and Zack is a barista. Reality of their sad situation sets in right before their 10 year high school reunion. In a memorable scene, their water gets cut off while Miri is mid-shower the night of the reunion, and she resorts to using toilet water to finish the job. The only solution to make the reunion tolerable is to get really drunk. With bills to pay and a Miri’s recent fame as “Granny Panties” on Youtube, they decide that they could make quick cash writing and starring in amateur porn. During production, Zack and Miri wonder if their relationship could advance beyond a platonic professionalism.

The evolution between the relationship of Zack and Miri is indeed predictable. Due to a really witty script, it still is entertaining to watch it unfold. This movie shows the evolution of Kevin Smith. It is just as vulgar as his previous films, yet still manages to get the audience involved with the main characters. It also has the most disgusting scene involving constipation and anal sex that you will ever see in an R-Rated movie (and partially why this movie nearly received an NC-17 rating). Really, I cannot reveal too much of the plot without spoiling some of the more memorable moments. 

As typical of a Smith script, be careful to laugh at the first joke, because you will miss the second and third one to follow. This movie is really golden with jokes, and created porn titles such as Star Whores III – Revenge of the Shit never gets redundant. 

A View Askew production never disappoints with the cameos, either; porn legends Traci Lords and Katie Morgan rounding out the supporting cast. Another memorable cameo is the appearance of Justin Long and Brandon Routh as a couple at the high school reunion. 

The movie is completely thorough, too, in its quality. The soundtrack to the movie includes songs from Bronski Beat and Jermaine Stewart. 

Kevin Smith has created a hit that will not only appease his current fans who love him in a cult-like way and will instantly escalate this film as a hit, but also bring on a ton of new fans who will find the controversial name, the consistent hits of Seth Rogan, and a sweet yet disgusting script appealing.