Zack and Miri Make a Porno review

 

 

            In the 90s Kevin Smith was the cutting edge of comedy, the underground raunchiness delivered to audiences unsatisfied with the usual sense of humor of Hollywood. Smith isn’t much of a director, as he has often admitted, but his screenwriting is unmistakable, pushing the envelope on sexual content without ever showing anything. The dialogue was simply that vulgar and creatively offensive. Anyone who witnessed the unrated teaser for Zack and Miri Make a Porno knows that this much has not changed about Smith’s style, though his films grow increasingly sweeter and his directing improves with each film he makes.

 

            If it feels like it has been some time since Smith has made a film, this may be true, but he always seems to take his time in-between projects. The difference with his return now is that there have been some changes in the field of comedy, as Judd Apatow has been involved with nearly every successful comedy in the last few years. Apatow is a director not unlike Smith in many ways, with an emphasis on dialogue and acting that leaves little consideration for any camera work that could make his style as a director more distinguishable than his words. Apatow also enjoys an R-rated comedy, but the main difference between the two directors is the way that they handle their actors. Apatow encourages his actors to ad-lib, improvise and create dialogue of their own, while Smith his notoriously picky about having his script recited word-for-word. Three successful regulars of Judd Apatow films star in Smith’s Zack and Miri Make a Porno, making this an interesting collaboration that often feels influenced by the style of both directors.

 

            Seth Rogen sports especially long hair and unkempt hair along with a beard and glasses as Zack, an obvious surrogate for Smith himself. Zack lives with his best friend since high school, Miri (Elizabeth Banks), and they are so comfortable with each other that they can have conversations about masturbation toys with absolutely no shame or embarrassment. Even though they seem to have few aspiration with their lives, Zack and Miri seem content despite the piling debt that they have somehow retained through their lifestyle. When they attend their high school reunion, Zack and Miri have a chance encounter with a former school mate (Brandon Routh) who now makes a fortune starring in gay porn with his boyfriend (Justin Long). This is an inspiration to Zack, and eventually he has convinced Miri that they can set aside their friendship and sleep together in order to get out of debt.

 

            Smith’s treatment of the relationship between Zack in Miri is always respectful, and actually quite sweet. It helps that Rogen and Banks seem to have a sincere chemistry with each other that makes their friendship completely believable. That being said, the porno film quickly involves many more than just these two friends, and some of the other sex scenes filmed for the porno are anything but sweet, and Smith shows that he has retained his immature sense of humor along with the more sophisticated relationship dynamic. Gone are the days where Smith was vulgar enough by words alone.

 

            I will say that I respect that this film has not been released with an unrated version. There are so many films released this way that I have to question if the filmmakers have stopped fighting to get the cut they want released in theaters or if it is simply a ploy to take consumer’s money. There is never any telling until you watch both the theatrical and unrated version, and the fact that this film is the same as it will ever be shows the strength that Smith does have as a director.