Following the buzz that the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) was "gunning" for it, Kevin Smith's Zach and Miri Make a Porno (the flick about making a porno flick) has been hit with the ultimate cockblock: an NC-17 rating.
The film stars Judd Apatow staple funnyman Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks playing a strapped-for-cash platonic pair who make a porno and become not-so-platonic in the process. As expected, the MPAA assigned the film an NC-17 rating for "some graphic sexuality."
Rogen previously expressed his chagrin over the ratings system back in June. "It's crazy to me that Hostel is fine, with people gouging their eyes out and sh** like that. But you can't show two people having sex -- that's too much," he told MTV Movie News. The rating has caused worry that not enough theaters will carry the explicit film, so even viewers willing to see it might find it difficult to do so.
On the MPAA site, the film is listed as "pending appeal" which according to News Askew, the website devoted to all things Kevin Smith, probably means the producers will "have the MPAA taking a closer look, likely without any cuts, in the hopes they'll be re-assigned and 'R.'" The site, which broke the story, promises to follow the updates on the film's rating.
This won't mark Kevin Smith's first ratings bout, however. In 2001, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, for instance, earned its "R" by scrapping a verbally explicit hooker scene, which later made it onto the film's DVD.
The movie was originally slated for an October release, but keep the blog watch for updates.
Related links:
ZachAndMiri.com
ViewAskew.com
Kevin Smith on IMDb
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