FROM THE ARCHIVES 4: a review of "Zack And Miri Make A Porno"

Also written in the fall of 2008, here is a review of Writer/Director Kevin Smith's previous film as his current release "Cop Out" is currently in theaters.

"ZACK AND MIRI MAKE A PORNO" Written and Directed by Kevin Smith
*** (three stars--but barely)

Writer/Director Kevin Smith's "Zack And Miri Make A Porno" felt surprisingly hemmed in by not one but TWO film genres: the romantic comedy and the Kevin Smith film. While it didn't entirely succeed at either, the end result is a charming, sweetly romantic and often quite funny film about two lifelong platonic friends who end up making a porn film to attempt to cure their cash flow issues as well as their respective sense of humiliation after experiencing their 10th high school reunion. And of course, it would not be a spoiler to say that during the making of their erotic opus, they realize they're in love.

Smith has covered much of this thematic territory before and better. The tension of growing into your 30s and where you go after the haze of your 20s has dissipated and the pain of high school remains was handled with a knowing perspective and dramatic urgency in Smith's previous effort, the outstanding "Clerks II." All manner of sexual frustrations, complications, and insecurities have been a staple of Smith's work since his landmark first film, "Clerks" and his occasional love stories were never more true and emotionally messier than in "Chasing Amy" and to an extent, the platonic love between Dante and Randall in the aforementioned "Clerks II."

Essentially, for much of his career, Kevin Smith has handled adult issues as an equal to his contemporaries and audience. Whether comedically or acutely and uncomfortably serious, Smith never pandered or really seemed to be trying too hard to shock viewers. He has typically held strong control over his stories and characters, allowing them to talk and behave in the way real people would possibly behave, even when situations grow outlandish. "The Donkey Show" in "Clerks II" for instance would've been a painful, tasteless and endless ode to bestiality if the film hadn't already been firmly grounded with the relationships previously set in motion and the audience had invested themselves in. Even the fantastical elements of "Dogma" were weighted down by a real world level of thoughtfulness concerning religion as a whole and Catholicism in particular.

With "Porno," Kevin Smith dealt with adult issues childishly and it felt false. For the first time, the profanity seemed excessive and forced as if just saying the words would be funny in and of itself. Sexual issues also seemed to be a tad trite. And what was the on-going fascination with feces and defecation? All of those instances (especially a particularly harsh gross-out sequence I laughed at despite myself) seemed to be no more enlightened than a three-year-old madly uttering the word "Poop!!!" constantly. It seemed for the first time, and possibly because Smith is about to make a dramatic stylistic change with his next film, a politically themed horror film entitled "Red State" which he has admitted will have no comedy whatsoever, he felt he owed it to his legion of fans to give them just one more "Kevin Smith vulgar laughfest" before he moves onwards.

Even the romantic comedy aspect of this film felt contrived and cliched and with Smith, surprise is always the key. He is too skilled of a writer and too knowing of movies themselves to have his characters follow the "fall-in-love-break-up-reunite" sequence in the same fashion of any Kate Hudson feature.

So why the three stars, you ask? Well, it is a comedy and believe me, I did laugh from start to finish. Seth Rogen is a fine addition to Kevin Smith's stable of actors and it was a pleasure seeing Jeff Anderson and Jason Mewes again and out of the Viewaskewniverse. Elizabeth Banks was simply a lovely, sunny presence who had perfect chemistry with Rogen and lifted every scene she was in. And yes, the love scene between Rogen and Banks was just truly, truly lovely. It worked visually and emotionally -and it was the one "adult" moment in an otherwise juvenile film.

I was also touched by the camaraderie between Rogen, Banks and the makeshift cast and crew of their porn film and it reminded me of the very best elements of the criminally underseen "Be Kind Rewind" from earlier this year. I also have to say that the MVP of "Porno" is definitely Craig Robinson, Rogen's coffeehouse co-worker and porn film producer. His masterfully deadpanned line readings often delivered the film into sheer hilarity for me and at times, his steady presence grounded the outrageousness around him. Give this man a leading role!

When all was said and done, I enjoyed myself but I know that Smith can do better, he's definitely got more up his sleeve and I am anxious to see the results.