Reviewed by GREG KING
Director: Kevin Smith
Stars: Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, Jason Mewes, Craig Robinson, Jeff Anderson, Jeff Anderson, Katie Morgan, Brandon Routh, Justin Long.

With such a wonderful wowser baiting title this latest production from Kevin Smith (Clerks, etc) is likely to attract attention for some of the wrong reasons. At times Smith has walked a fine line between good and bad taste, and while there are a few moments here that will raise eyebrows, for the most part Zack And Miri is a lot of fun. Like most of the films from the Judd Apatow stable, this raunchy and hilarious romantic comedy has many crude and gross out moments, but they are leavened by the film’s underlying sweet nature, its undeniable feel-good sensibility and a happy ending. Zack And Miri also asks the question first posed by the classic romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally – does sex ruin a good friendship?
Perennial slacker Zack (Seth Roger, doing his usual ruffled and shabby man-child shtick) and Miri (Elizabeth Banks, from Role Models, etc, who is carving out a niche for herself in these kinds of films lately) have been best friends forever. They have shared an apartment for a long time, but are now struggling to make ends meet and pay off the mounting array of bills. Zack works at a low rent coffee shop. When attending a school reunion, Zack meets a former classmate who now is a gay porn star, and a brilliant idea is born.
Zack decides to shoot his own home grown porn movie. He convinces some of his friends to help in this endeavour, despite the fact that they have no experience whatsoever. His boss (Craig Robinson, from the US version of The Office) agrees to fund the movie if he can be involved in the casting sessions. There are some genuinely funny moments as Zack and his friends raise the money, cast the film, discuss catchy titles and decide which famous films to parody. They finally shoot their epic porn movie, which includes the almost obligatory Star Wars spoof.
Typical of Smith’s sophomore-style humour, the film is full of the usual barrage of potty-mouthed language and ribald humour. Despite the edgy quality of much of the film though, by the end it has become almost unbearably schmaltzy and saccharine.
Smith has cast many of his regulars, including Jason Mewes and Jeff Anderson, in the film, adding a sense of familiarity to proceedings, while former porn star Traci Lords makes her presence felt during the fictitious porn movie that Zack and Miri do indeed make. Rogen and Banks throw themselves into the film with energy and enthusiasm, and they develop an easy-going rapport here that adds to the film’s charms.
Despite its raunchy nature and obscenity-littered dialogue, Zack And Miri Make A Porno turns out to be a rather enjoyable romantic comedy and is also Smith’s most commercial and accessible film yet.
***