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Release Date: Oct. 31
Director: Kevin Smith
Writer: Kevin Smith
Cinematographer: David Klein
Starring: Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, Jason Mewes, Justin Long, Brandon Routh
Studio/Running Time: The Weinstein Company, 101 mins.
If writer/director Kevin Smith had called his new film Kevin Smith Makes a Porno, it might be considered autobiographical, albeit without the porn. Smith used the experiences of making his first film (Clerks) at night in the convenience store where he worked, and injected it into Zack and Miri Make a Porno, where cash-challenged roommates shoot their first adult film at night in the coffee shop where they work. Fortunately, Smith now has a budget to hire a true star (Seth Rogen), one who has become America’s greatest slacker via Knocked Up and Pineapple Express.
Zack (Rogen) and his partner/roommate/possible love-interest Miri (Elizabeth Banks) attend their high school reunion where Miri tries to reacquaint herself with Bobby, her unrequited high-school crush hilariously played by Brendan Routh. When Miri learns Bobby’s “partner” is a gay porn star (Justin Long in a memorable performance) Miri is shattered but Zack is inspired, and the two begin to shoot their homemade porn film to help pay the rent. The audition scenes are priceless (use your imagination to learn Bubbles’ talent), but when Zack and Miri have to star in their own film they discover more than just sex.
Smith pushes the envelope with the censors, but the film does earn its R rating. Jason Mewes plays the anything-goes star of the porno and is involved in some of the more vulgar scenes, some that could have been left to the imagination and served the same purpose. The film begins to lose some of its impact two-thirds the way in, and the friendship bond between Zack and Miri has much more screen chemistry than the romantic bond. But some great one-liners and another comic crescendo from Rogen saves Zack and Miri Make a Porno from mere mediocrity.
Watch the red-band trailer for Zack and
Miri Make a Porno:
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I really enjoyed this movie and agree that Justin Long stole the show. The mini-movie during the credits was hysterical. Glad I stayed to catch all the songs listed at the end and got the chance to see those extra scenes.
Elizabeth Banks was also perfect (the reunion scene with Bobby Long was painfully hilarious).
The other star of the movie was the music: 17 songs in all. Here's the complete list of songs in the order they appeared in the movie - with notes about the scene each appeared in.
(the videos and downloads for them are here: http://www.reelsoundtrack.com/index.php?act=movie_details&id=52161)
Opening song - Wynona’s Big Brown Beaver by Primus
Coffee shop background - Smile, I Think She Likes You by James L. Venable
First song at reunion - Let Me Clear My Throat (Klassic Cool Original Version) by DJ Kool
Reunion, with Bobby Long - Sex And Candy by Marcy Playground
Reunion, talk to Roseanne - Steal My Sunshine by Len
Reunion, with Justin Long - Smalltown Boy by Bronski Beat
Reunion, last song - Just Like Honey by Jesus & Mary Chain
Bar - New Frontier by Donald Fagen
Star “wars” movie shoot - Fett’s Vette by MC Chris
After movie - My Assistant Will Take Notes - Forbidden Ensemble
Zack and Miri movie scene - Hold Me Up by Live
After Zack and Miri scene - Dreaming by Blondie
Party at their house - Party Up (Up In Here) by DMX
Second party song - Hey by Pixies
Song - You And I Are A Gang Of Losers by Dears
Zack and Miri Make-up - I Love You by Climax Blues Band
Closing credits - We Don’t Have To Take Our Clothes Off by Jermaine Stewart
Great movie, although I thought it kind of fizzled out a little as it went along. I thought there was room for a lot more to happen in this movie...although the scenes during the ending credits made up for a lack of "oomph" to the ending of the movie. One of the better films Smith has done in a while.
A window into American moral values, or to be more precise, the COMPLETE LACK thereof.
Miri and Zack are two 30-something losers (with a capital L) who, just like the U.S. Fed, suddenly find themselves utterly bankrupt and on the verge of homelessness. So in typical American fashion, they both decide to take the easy way out and make a porno movie for some quick cash. Of course their decision leaves the viewer confused as to why they don't simply just go out and get themselves a F'ing JOB instead, but THAT would be a sensible solution and Americans are definitely NOT interested in THOSE. One is also left wondering why Miri doesn't just go sell one of her kidneys, until one realizes the BRILLIANCE of her plan; she can only sell one of her kidneys ONCE, whereas she can rent-out her vagina over and over again until it's stretched-out like an old, used rubber band. Ah, doesn't American entrepreneurship just WARM your heart?
This movie features the usual torrent of F-words and vulgar language that we've all come to expect from this particular director, along with some sofisticated acting on the part of such well-known Thespians as Traci Lords, who plays a prostitute that can blow bubbles with her vagina. Kinda like Alan Greenspan and Bernanke do except Traci's bubbles DON'T impoverish half of humanity.
Back to this flick; if you're the typical American that likes to masturbate with one hand while holding a Chicken McSandwich with the other, SEE IT.
If on the other hand you value quality, logic, intelligence and have a strong set of moral values, DON'T BOTHER.