Not Much to Recommend about Raunchy Kevin Smith Sitcom
Between its titillating theme and the omnipresence of current comedy rage Seth Rogen, Zack and Miri Make a Porno is all but assured of being a critic-proof hit with its targeted raging-hormones demographic. Nonetheless, this raunchy sitcom pales in comparison to a couple of other recently-released teensploits, namely, Sex Drive and Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist.
The picture was written and directed by Kevin Smith, a reliable purveyor of bottom-feeding fare, and he definitely does not disappoint his rabid fans here in that regard. From an N-word laced opening sequence to a steady diet of profanity to its graphic dialogue to gratuitous frontal nudity to its much-anticipated sex scenes, Zack and Miri Make a Porno leaves even less to the imagination than its suggestive, testosterone-teasing title.
More shocking than funny, the film revolves around a couple of lifelong platonic friends who have been roommates since graduating from high school. Both of these slackers are stuck in minimum wage jobs which pay so little they can barely pay their rent or utility bills.
At their 10th high school reunion, Miri (Elizabeth Banks) puts the moves on Bobby Long (Brandon Routh), a handsome hunk she always had a crush on. But he has no interest in the nerdy girl everybody used to refer to as "Stinky Linky" even though she's since blossomed into a ravishing beauty. When she practically throws herself at Bobby, he admits to being a gay porn actor and introduces her to his flamboyant life mate (Justin Long).
Fast-forward a bit and we find our title characters with their electricity and water services turned off due to lack of payment. Inspired by their classmate's success in the adult film industry, they seize on the bright idea of co-starring in their own xxx-rated film. They agree to mate onscreen, but with mutual promises not to let the momentary intimacy change their otherwise non-physical relationship.
Meanwhile, Zack (Rogen), who works at a deli called Bean-B-Gone, talks his gullible, co-worker, Delaney (Craig Robinson), into underwriting the operation with promises that the unhappily-married man can audition a parade of naked women for the supporting cast. Delaney puts up the wad of cash he was planning to purchase a flat screen TV with, since he's fed up with his insufferable wife (Tisha Campbell), a stereotypical sassy sister who nags him mercilessly.
Next, they decide to shoot the skin flick right in the coffee shop after hours, and to rely on the store's surveillance camera. All goes well on the set until Zack and Miri's erotic scene during which, to their surprise but not the audience's, they discover they do have deep feelings for each other after all.
This less than convincing, last minute development makes for a pat Hollywood ending, but is sort of beside the point since the basic idea of the movie is to pile on as much t&a as possible. Why else would you have an actual former porn star (Traci Lords) play a porn star whose specialty is blowing bubbles from a certain part of her anatomy?
Never amusing, exciting or even funny, but a pathetic attempt to pass off as mainstream entertainment shallow smut that the censors just a generation ago would certainly have rated NC-17. What changed? Have our standards sunk this low?
Fair (1 star)
Rated R for graphic nudity, pervasive profanity, ethnic slurs, explicit sexuality and crude humor.
Running time: 101 minutes
Studio: The Weinstein Company
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