Zack and Miri Make a Porno

Obviously with a title like Zack and Miri Make a Porno, you kind of know what you're getting into before the movie even starts, not to mention that it's written and directed by Kevin Smith, so if you're expecting vulgar language and sex, this movie has it in spades. It is pure Kevin Smith: raunchy humor but with a bit of a gold lining- because surprisingly Zack and Miri is a romantic comedy, with a very sweet love story at its heart. But don't worry this is no mushy chick flick, it has enough laughs to keep the boys from falling asleep.


Zack (Seth Rogan) and Miri (Elizabeth Banks) have been friends since childhood. They are completely broke and on the verge of losing their apartment because of unpaid rent and utilities. They have to come up with some money and soon if they want to keep their place. And how do they decide to make money, of course by making their own porn. Things get complicated when it's time to shoot thier sex scene, and it turns out to be more meaningful than either were expecting.

As always Smith brings back his favs for different roles in his films: Jason Mewes (better known as Jay to Smith's Silent Bob) is Lester the Molester,
one of the porn stars Zack and Miri hire to star in the film. Clerks star, Jeff Anderson is Deacon, a rather intense goalie Zack recruits off his hockey team to be his cameraman. Bona fide porn stars Traci Lords and Katie Morgan are also cast in the porn. Traci Lords plays Bubbles, who got her name from a talent involving blowing bubbles with her unmentionables. And Katie Morgan is Stacy, who has one of the most memorable scenes of the movie. Justin Long also makes a pretty hilarious cameo as a gay porn star who gives Zack the inspiration of making his own porn. And of course Craig Robinson is Delaney, Zack's co-worker at the coffee shop who becomes the producer of the porn just so he can see a naked woman other than his wife.

Seth Rogan is, as always really funny, even when he is swearing up a storm, and Elizabeth Banks carries her own with the foul mouthed guys. I had some great belly laughs happening during the screening, and the audience loved every minute of it. It's not stop jokes from the get go with a whole lot of sex and a little bit of romance. Oh, and if you're wondering how a movie with this much swearing and nudity didn't get and NC-17 rating, Smith explained that he talked his way out of it with the ratings board. He showed clips from other films that were rated R, and showed how Zack and Miri wasn't as explicit and some how it worked. I added some pictures from the screening's Q&A session with Elizabeth Banks, Jason Mewes, Katie Morgan, Ricky Mabe and Kevin Smith.