Rated R on appeal for strong crude sexual content including dialogue, graphic nudity and pervasive language.
101 Minutes

Written and Directed By: Kevin Smith
Staring: Seth Rogan, Elizabeth Banks, Traci Lords, Jeff Anderson, Tisha Campbell-Martin, Justin Long, Katie Morgan, Craig Robinson, Brandon Routh, and Ricky Mabe

What? Han Solo ain’t never had no sex with Princess Leia in the Star War! -Delaney

Review

Only Kevin Smith could make a romantic comedy about making a porno film and get away with it.  In his newest comedy that has intricately twisted a romance in it, we get to see the Kevin Smith that I’m used to.  Unapologetic bathroom humor, blatant sexual language, and of course dialogue that is written for the mind rather than actually speaking, but Smith stays true to form and pulls it off in a way that paces itself naturally, making this film humanized even in it’s subject matter.  Zack and Miri may be a little hardcore for a more mainstream audiences, but the love story within is cute enough that it won’t offend the tough at heart, but will still open a wider appeal to those who aren’t acclimated to Smith’s crude humor.

Times are hard and  people are struggling.  Zack and Miri are no exceptions this.  Each have jobs that barely pay the bills but certainly aren’t anything one might call a career.  At their ten year reunion they are slapped in the face by disappointments , only to return home to a house without electricity.  Desperate to get their lives in order they conceive the idea to make a porno movie for quick money.  Somewhere in the mix of making “Star Whores” Zack and Miri find that there is maybe something more going on between them.  How in the midst of making a porno together and surviving a lifelong friendship will they get the film made, save themselves financially, and discover the true meaning of their relationship.

The title says it all.  Either this movies content is going to be for you or not.  It cleverly says what we all think in relationships, while somehow creating a porn flick in the midst.   The romance actually works even in it’s insane setting which tells me Smith really does know romance just as well as raunchy funsies.  The originality was there, the acting was right on, and the character’s were wild and entertaining, yet still tangible.  Zack and Miri was a film that balanced Smith’s fantastical universe with comedy and made it seem realistic.

The Star Wars part was every geek boys wet dream come true, even though it’s final creation was thwarted.  Any fanboy of lightsabors and Sith Lords had a happy ending with this portion of the film.  It was definitely the comedic highlight for myself as a huge fan of Star Wars.  It’s just one of those personal Kevin Smith moments where he definitely adds his own personal sense of humor to the film.  The familiarity of Star Wars and the obvious affection Smith has for it just makes it even more amusing.

Supporting the unrealistic dialogue was the great acting skills of Seth Rogan and Elizabeth Banks.  They really sold Smith’s language in a way that translated naturally making the audience believe people actually talk this way.  There was a kinetic energy bursting between Banks and Rogan that burst across threw the screen.  The hilarious supporting crew including Jason Mewes and Jeff Anderson, plus a few other surprise cameo’s if you find them, only added layers of funny to the roles.  The casting was great and so were the performances.

As usual Smith’s movies aren’t for everyone but you can’t take away from his very individual talent.  What he does and what he tries to achieve he succeeds at.  This was one of his more enjoyable movies of recently and far better than Clerks II and probably his best since Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.  This film showed that Smith might be maturing slightly, but that boys still never really grow up.  Also the fact that he didn’t find it necessary to bring Jay and Silent Bob back and connect the rest of his films together showed a level of positive change, even though those characters are adored, they’ve kinda said all they’ve had to say.  Zack and Miri was a film that showed real growth from him but also contained everything that I love about his old movies as well.  Zack and Miri was a HUGE comic success for me.  This is one I want on my DVD rack.

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