Making a ‘porno’ with real heart
By Katherine Johnson
Many people may hear the word “porno” in a movie title and automatically shy away from going to see such a film. However, they’d be missing out on the hilarity that is Zack and Miri Make a Porno, a movie that’s sure to have audiences laughing until they cry.
The movie revolves around two people, Zack and Miri, who have been best friends since high school. Zack works in a coffee shop and Miri works in a local mall in Monroeville, Pa. Zack and Miri live together and are faced with tons of money issues including not being able to pay for their power and water. It reaches the point where they cannot pay their bills from month to month and face homelessness.
With nowhere else to turn, they decide to gather their courage to make amateur porn together to pay the bills. To help them see their money-making plan come to fruition, they elicit behind-the- scenes help from friends Delaney (Craig Robinson) and Deacon (Jeff Anderson), and the on-screen “talents” of Stacey (real-life porn star Katie Morgan).
The main characters are Zack Brown, played by Seth Rogen (Knocked Up, Pineapple Express), and Miriam Linky, played by Elizabeth Banks (The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Definitely, Maybe). They seem to be destined to have their lives intertwined for the long haul. Though there may be several roadblocks on their way to happiness, all seems to end up exactly as it should, whether it’s what the audience expected or not.
The film, which was written and directed by Kevin Smith (Clerks and Dogma), contains all of the types of jokes and scenarios that one would expect from one of his movies. There is also an appearance by Jason Mewes, who plays Jay in Clerks and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, but what would a Smith movie be without Mewes?
There are also several other cameos in the film from some very recognizable actors. Justin Long (Accepted and Dodgeball) and Brandon Routh (Superman Returns) both make brief appearances in a hilariously unexpected scene.
As the plot continues, the viewers meet more and more characters who take part in Zack and Miri’s business adventure, and each one adds an interesting aspect to the film’s overall appeal.
The film includes several puns and various word-plays on different movie titles as well as other aspects of pop culture, which would be expected from a movie where the characters try to come up with a title for a porn film.
Robinson (The Office) steals the movie from Rogen and Banks. Robinson plays Zack’s co-worker-turned-producer of Star Whores, with R2-Teabag, Hung Solo, Darth Vibrator and Miri as Princess Lay-her. Robinson delivers his lines with perfect comedic timing. Audiences don’t know whether he will say something that will touch our hearts or something disturbing that makes us feel sick.
Zack and Miri will certainly be one of those movies that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats, either with humor or anticipation. There are several very quotable scenes that will keep audience members laughing long after the film is done, though they may only be able to be enjoyed in certain company.
Smith has shown that even if a film is explicitly raunchy, it can still have lovable characters who exhibit endearing qualities.
Though the film is only suitable for the mature audience member, and some of its jokes are rather crude or disgusting, it is definitely a must-see for anyone who is interested in that brand of comedy or simply a fan of the movies starring Rogen.
