In the interests of full disclosure I am a big Kevin Smith fan as previous posts have explained so it was pretty hard for me to be too objective about this flick. So it was with much anticipation that the missus and I headed over to the local multiplex on another hot Phoenix afternoon to soak up some free AC and pay homage to one of my comedy heroes.Having Seth Rogen in a movie these days is pretty much as close as you can get to guaranteeing a healthy box office return and he was cast because Smith had written the film with Rogen in mind for the character of Zack. In the past Smith's movies, despite often featuring heavyweights like Ben Affleck, Chris Rock, Rosario Dawson and Alan Rickman, usually play to a fiercely loyal but not huge audience. As you see from the weekend box office numbers below Zack and Miri came second on weekend takings with a very respectable $10.6m and will surely surpass Smith's previous highest gross of $30m with 1999's Dogma.
I digress, back to Z&M! Well I am pleased to say this was a very and i really do mean very funny movie. Yes the humor is based on a long string of sex jokes but the characters are real and so well portrayed by the two leads. We all know Rogen from Knocked Up & Pineapple Express but Elizabeth Banks who plays Miriam 'Stinky' Linky was something of an unknown quantity to me. Smith is well known for writing good roles and dialogue for women and Banks herself has said this was part of the pleasure she got from playing the character of Miri. It seems her star is shining brighter these days as you can currently see Banks playing Laura Bush in Oliver Stone's W and she is also a lead in the upcoming frightener The Uninvited (saw the trailer at Z&M ... looks well scary!!!).
The plot is exactly what you have heard it is, two roommates hit rock bottom and decide the only way out is to make a (very) low budget porn movie. Typically in Smith's films the leads are supported by an excellent cast and this movie is no exception with standout performances by The Office's Craig Robinson and Jason Mewes. Credibility was assured when actual porn stars were cast and make a contribution to the movie with surprisingly good turns being offered by veteran Traci Lords and HBO favorite Katie Morgan. The movie zips along at a good pace, often raising eyebrows and occasionally making you stop and say ... hey, that's the guy from the Mac ads (yes it was Justin Long) and the guy from Superman Returns (yes it was Brandon Routh) playing gay porn stars Bobby Long and 'Brandon' ... some nice name swapping fun there! There were also some truly laugh out loud moments which are so great in a movie theater, to be surrounded by people giggling uncontrollably and unselfconsciously is rare these days and such fun!
Ultimately Smith succeeds with this movie because it really isn't about a porno but about a feel good love story that is genuinely heartwarming. In these troubled and uncertain times Smith has given us a 100 minute escape filled with laughter and feeling and I loved it.
Oh and stay for the bonus scene after the intial credits role and the end of the flick, you'll thank me!
Rating: *****
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