Zack and Miri Make a Porno directed by Kevin Smith

Zack and Miri Make a Porno (ZAMP) is the eighth film from Kevin Smith and the second film (after Jersey Girl) that doesn't play into the universe or characters that he created and used in all his previous films (Jersey Girl withstanding).  This film, is raunchy, funny, sweet and enjoyable. At the same time it is is full of cheesy sentiment, jokes revolving around shit and an incredible amount of swearing, for no other reason except to be foul.

ZAMP stars Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks in the leads, and Jason Mewes and Craig Robinson in supporting roles.  As usual Mewes is great in his role as a dimwitted guy who gets casted in the porno of said title.  Banks and Rogen fair well together and have great chemistry on the screen but it is Robinson who ends up stealing the picture under everybody's noses (Justin Long appears in a brief cameo that comes close to being the funniest scene in the movie). Robinson, of The Office fame, is comedy gold in ZAMP.  He is laugh out loud funny, and everyone pales in comparison to him including the usual scene stealer himself, Seth Rogen.

The story concerns two roommates who are down on their luck and down on funds. One night they decide to make a porn film to help make ends meet.  What ensues is a barrage of sex jokes, nudity and foul language that works for the most part, but leaves the viewer feeling a little empty by the time the credits role. Smith, who usually writes incredible dialogue and original story ideas seems to have lost a bit of his magic touch here. ZAMP is still really funny, and scattered throughout the film are some great one-liners and stellar dialogue that Smith is famous for, but for the most part the jokes and the storyline follow a conventional and unoriginal path. The porn titles that Rogen and Banks and other cast members go through are nothing that haven't been said before or used  a thousand times in similar contexts and the final title that they come up with (for their first porno attempt) is just weak.

And then there are the expected shit, ass and penis jokes that Smith seems to always feel the need to put in his movies. Unlike Clerks (1 and 2), Dogma and his other films, Smith's predilection for this type of humour works much better in ZAMP. Not to say they aren't gross or juvenile, but these jokes fit much better into the subject matter. Porn works much better for this kind of humour than say religion ala Dogma.

And even though the film is enjoyable, and funny and keeps you watching from start to finish, there is an air of predictability to the story. You can see the ending coming a mile away and are left with a feeling of been there, done that. That is to say, when the final credits role you feel as though you haven't really seen anything new. That's because Smith's writing is usually sharp, smart and authentic but in ZAMP for the most part it comes off as just the opposite.

The production design is pretty good for this film. Sets look real, outsides feel cold, and costumes look good, especially the Star Wars themed porn film props and costumes.  The music is unmemorable and as I write this review I can't remember a single musical cue.  Smith's direction is fairly solid and you can see he has come along way since Clerks. (student film like) and the poorly directed Mallrats. The editing is pretty good too, making the movie progress at a steady pace, but a few scenes could of been a little tighter.

ZAMP is a funny film. It's chock full of sex and nudity and funny performances and it's got a touching and sweet resolution if somewhat cheesy and conventional.  This doesn't rank up there as a great film, or even as a great Kevin Smith film but if you are a fan of his, or a fan of raunchy humour, I could think of worse ways to spend an hour and forty minutes

Film Rating: 68%

Breakdown (How Zack and Miri Make a Porno scored 68%):

Production Design: 7 out of 10
Cinematography: 7 out of 10
Re-playability: 7 out of 10

Originality: 7 out of 10
Costumes: 7 out of 10

Directing: 7 out of 10

Editing: 7 out of 10

Acting: 7 out of 10
Music: 6 out of 10
Script: 6 out of 10

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