Zack and Miri Make a Porno

[Alexander]

As much as I loved "Clerks" when it came out, I've run hot and cold on Smith's subsequent work. The odd thing is that I seem to love the films that most people hate. I loved "Mallrats" which I thought was a brilliant send-up of 80s teen-angst films. I thought "Chasing Amy" was his strongest overall film. I wasn't crazy about "Dogma" although a LOT of people seem to love it. I thought "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" was the same kind of dumb fun as "Mallrats" (but not as good). "Jersey Girl" sucked balls and I never got around to "Clerks II" (although it is on my Netflix queue). I LOVED "Zack and Miri" though. I thought it was sweet and funny and actually got a decent perfomance out of Jason Mewes (who is usually just dumb, but dumb in a "he's supposed to be dumb" way). Now you can make the argument that by casting Seth Rogan, Elizabeth Banks, and several other Apatow regulars, Smith is kind of piggybacking on Apatow's success. And I think that's kind of true. But there's a lot in this film that's pure Smith. The writing is razor sharp in spots and the whole concept behind the film seems so simple you have to wonder why this hasn't been done before. I mean, everyone knows that porn is funny, and unattractive amateurs making bad porn is even funnier (Smith does a great job making Banks frumpy, which is an achievement considering how hot she is).

Overall, I think this is Smith's best film since "Chasing Amy." It's crude. It's juvenile. It's laugh out loud funny, even if it slows down a bit during the third act. And casting Superman as a gay porn star is inspired!

[Aggie87]

Is this a Jay & Silent Bob flick? Or do they at least make a cameo, since you mention Mewes?

[Shawn]

I just went and saw this tonight and I completely agree, it's easily his best film since Chasing Amy. A near-genius combination of locker room humor and a touching look at the difference sex can make between longtime friends. Rogan continues to get more likable in each film he's in...and Elizabeth Banks is slowly but surely becoming one of the most enjoyable actresses in recent memory. Her performance here is multi-layered and absolutely effortless. She has the potential to be both a huge star and a great actress.

You have to hand it to Smith though, he manages to sneak in some really amazing shots without drawing too much attention to himself, and even though the film is laugh out loud funny...I left the theater with the love story resonating in my bones.

(Mewes plays a different character here)

***1/2 out of ****

Edited November 1, 2008 by Shawn

[AndrewHill]

Cool. Taking my wife tomorrow to see it, cuz she is a HUGE Smith fan!

ps: thought Clerks was the masterpiece; never thought much of Chasing Amy...

[Big Al]

As much as I loved "Clerks" when it came out, I've run hot and cold on Smith's subsequent work. The odd thing is that I seem to love the films that most people hate. I loved "Mallrats" which I thought was a brilliant send-up of 80s teen-angst films. I thought "Chasing Amy" was his strongest overall film. I wasn't crazy about "Dogma" although a LOT of people seem to love it. I thought "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" was the same kind of dumb fun as "Mallrats" (but not as good). "Jersey Girl" sucked balls and I never got around to "Clerks II" (although it is on my Netflix queue).

Agree for the most part. "Mallrats" is still my favorite. Didn't think much of "Chasing Amy," but I really enjoyed "Dogma." J&SBSB was a waste of time and money for me, never saw "Jersey Girl" (never wanted to) and enjoyed the second "Clerks" infinitely more than the first one.

Now you can make the argument that by casting Seth Rogan, Elizabeth Banks, and several other Apatow regulars, Smith is kind of piggybacking on Apatow's success. And I think that's kind of true.

Well, yeah. I mean, when I first saw the poster and the ads, I thought it WAS an Apatow flick.

Still, I'm like you with regards to Smith's work, so chances are if you liked it, I'll probably like it as well. Thanks for the rec!

[AndrewHill]

Big Al- with you on this: Clerks II- was just as great if not greater than Clerks!

[Jazzmoose]

Wow. I've never seen any of these movies. I don't know whether to be embarrassed or snooty...

[RDK]

I dislike Kevin Smith (at least as a filmmaker) intensely, but I like Seth and am deeply in love with Elizabeth Banks. So I'll have to think about this one...

edited for a typo because it's late and I'm a little bit high - who woulda thunk they put pot in the popcorn? That's not normally something I'd share, let alone in a post edit, but being a Kevin Smith thread it seemed appropriate.

Edited November 1, 2008 by RDK

[rachel]

Wow. I've never seen any of these movies. I don't know whether to be embarrassed or snooty...

You could pretend to be either while truly being the other. Cover all bases.

[Alexander]

Elizabeth Banks is slowly but surely becoming one of the most enjoyable actresses in recent memory. Her performance here is multi-layered and absolutely effortless. She has the potential to be both a huge star and a great actress.

I read an interview with her in which she calls herself "a character actress in a leading lady's body" and I think that's totally true of her. She's beautiful and talented, but she has the ability to disappear into a role. I didn't even make the connection that she was Betty Brant in the Spider-Man movies until recently, and it's not just the hair!

[Alexander]

Wow. I've never seen any of these movies. I don't know whether to be embarrassed or snooty...

You can be snooty about the rest, but you should be embarrassed about "Clerks" since that was kind of an early 90s phenom. That's like missing out on "Resevoir Dogs" when it came out. Or not being into Grunge. It was part of the Zeitgeist of the era.

Edited for misspelling "Zeitgeist," which I can't believe I did.

Edited November 1, 2008 by Alexander

[Dan Gould]

Wow. I've never seen any of these movies. I don't know whether to be embarrassed or snooty...

You can be snooty about the rest, but you should be embarrassed about "Clerks" since that was kind of an early 90s phenom. That's like missing out on "Resevoir Dogs" when it came out. Or not being into Grunge. It was part of the Zeitgeist of the era.

Edited for misspelling "Zeitgeist," which I can't believe I did.

I think one can refuse to be embarrassed to have had the good sense and taste not to have been into Grunge.

[king ubu]

so who are Zack and Miri and where can I watch that porno? link please!

[Quincy]

Heh, the advertising is different for either each town or theater chain.

It's billed as "Zach And Miri Make A Porno" in Eugene at Regal Cinemas.

In more conservative Springfield it's just "Zach And Miri" at Cinemark.

Not sure if it's the town or the chain behind it. And it's not just a matter of ad space, as Regal has a separate large ad where there's plenty of room to fit in "Make A Porno."

And Alexander, to suggest that Jason Mewes is anything but a genius...shame on you!

[Quincy]

Her performance here is multi-layered and absolutely effortless. She has the potential to be both a huge star and a great actress.

She really nailed Laura Bush in W. Oooo, that sounds so kinky.

[king ubu]

Her performance here is multi-layered and absolutely effortless. She has the potential to be both a huge star and a great actress.

She really nailed Laura Bush

now we're talkin' business

[Jazzmoose]

Wow. I've never seen any of these movies. I don't know whether to be embarrassed or snooty...

You can be snooty about the rest, but you should be embarrassed about "Clerks" since that was kind of an early 90s phenom. That's like missing out on "Resevoir Dogs" when it came out. Or not being into Grunge. It was part of the Zeitgeist of the era.

Edited for misspelling "Zeitgeist," which I can't believe I did.

I think one can refuse to be embarrassed to have had the good sense and taste not to have been into Grunge.

Damn. Well, at least I'm on the right side with Reservoir Dogs...

[jazzbo]

This was a very funny and touching movie. The "romance" was well played even if not quite as convincing to me (who is actually living within a friendship turned romance) as it may have been to others here. Kevin Smith has really learned how to incorporate the gross with the truly moving and he's at the top of his game in this movie.

[BruceH]

Damn. Well, at least I'm on the right side with Reservoir Dogs...

This was a very funny and touching movie.

???

[Alexander]

Damn. Well, at least I'm on the right side with Reservoir Dogs...

This was a very funny and touching movie.

???

"Reservoir Dogs" is a VERY funny and touching movie. Dig the way Harvey Kietel takes care of the mortally wounded Tim Roth...

[Alexander]

Wow. I've never seen any of these movies. I don't know whether to be embarrassed or snooty...

You can be snooty about the rest, but you should be embarrassed about "Clerks" since that was kind of an early 90s phenom. That's like missing out on "Resevoir Dogs" when it came out. Or not being into Grunge. It was part of the Zeitgeist of the era.

Edited for misspelling "Zeitgeist," which I can't believe I did.

I think one can refuse to be embarrassed to have had the good sense and taste not to have been into Grunge.

I will amend that statement to note that you should be embarassed to have been in your teens or twenties during the early 90s (as I was) and not have been into Grunge. It was just part of that moment, man. It was the perfect soundtrack to being just out of college and un- or underemployed. It would be like having lived through the sixties and not liking psychedelia...

[BruceH]

Wow. I've never seen any of these movies. I don't know whether to be embarrassed or snooty...

You can be snooty about the rest, but you should be embarrassed about "Clerks" since that was kind of an early 90s phenom. That's like missing out on "Resevoir Dogs" when it came out. Or not being into Grunge. It was part of the Zeitgeist of the era.

Edited for misspelling "Zeitgeist," which I can't believe I did.

I think one can refuse to be embarrassed to have had the good sense and taste not to have been into Grunge.

I will amend that statement to note that you should be embarassed to have been in your teens or twenties during the early 90s (as I was) and not have been into Grunge. It was just part of that moment, man. It was the perfect soundtrack to being just out of college and un- or underemployed. It would be like having lived through the sixties and not liking psychedelia...

Or in high school in the late 70's and not getting into punk?

[Alexander]

Wow. I've never seen any of these movies. I don't know whether to be embarrassed or snooty...

You can be snooty about the rest, but you should be embarrassed about "Clerks" since that was kind of an early 90s phenom. That's like missing out on "Resevoir Dogs" when it came out. Or not being into Grunge. It was part of the Zeitgeist of the era.

Edited for misspelling "Zeitgeist," which I can't believe I did.

I think one can refuse to be embarrassed to have had the good sense and taste not to have been into Grunge.

I will amend that statement to note that you should be embarassed to have been in your teens or twenties during the early 90s (as I was) and not have been into Grunge. It was just part of that moment, man. It was the perfect soundtrack to being just out of college and un- or underemployed. It would be like having lived through the sixties and not liking psychedelia...

Or in high school in the late 70's and not getting into punk?

Exactly.

[7/4]

I will amend that statement to note that you should be embarassed to have been in your teens or twenties during the early 90s (as I was) and not have been into Grunge. It was just part of that moment, man. It was the perfect soundtrack to being just out of college and un- or underemployed. It would be like having lived through the sixties and not liking psychedelia...

Or in high school in the late 70's and not getting into punk?

Exactly.

Good thing I was embarrassed in the late '70s.

[Dan Gould]

If I was in high school in the early 80s, what was I supposed to be into? Madonna?

Clearly I have the good sense, taste and judgment not to follow the lemmings.