Zack and Miri Make a Porno: Official Review (As approved of by Suicide Girl MEMBER=Annika])
Porn: the Ultimate Equalizer
Much has been made of Kevin Smiths new movie co-opting the Judd Apatow formula, even utilizing many players from the Apatow Troupe (Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, Craig Robertson, and Gerry Bednob in a silly, wasted cameo). Unfortunately, I cannot argue with this assessment. The appearance of some these actors is fairly distracting at first, especially when teamed with Smiths own standbys Jason Mewes and Jeff Anderson. It can certainly be argued that Apatow co-opted Smiths style for dick and fart jokes with nerdcore heart first, but if thats the case, the latter writer/director improved upon the originals formula. Sort of like how Einstein improved on Isaac Newton. These things dick flicks and physics have always been around, they were just waiting to be discovered.
What hasnt been discussed much, as far as Ive seen, is just how autobiographical Zack and Miri may be. As you may know, or can discern from the title, the film is about the making of a movie. The movie within the movie is made on a shoestring budget, cast with friends and acquaintances playing most of the parts, and shot inside the main characters place of business (a coffee shop) at night after its closed. As you may know, Kevin Smiths first movie, Clerks, was also made on the cheap, cast entirely with friends and people from his Jersey neighborhood, and filmed almost completely in the convenient store where he worked at the time. Also, Seth Rogen wears a beard and glasses for most of the movie. Kevin smith has a beard, and when hes not on camera, often wears glasses. Also, Zack winds up with a very attractive, out-of-his-league woman to spend the rest of his life with, which is another parallel to Smiths life (re: his wife, Jennifer Schwalbach, who makes her third appearance in her husbands movies, the first two being Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back and Clerks 2).
Im not sure if any of this was intentional, but there are far too many comparisons for this to be purely coincidental. However, if it was purposeful, then Smith really missed the boat. I would have been greatly interested and entertained to see Kevin Smiths ideas on making an independent film, even a porno. Especially the concept of shooting at night and then working all day which Ive done. The toll that takes on your body, your mind, your relationships. All in the name of following your passion, or at least, in this case, your last resort to become financially comfortable. A Shakespeare in Love or Opening Night or Noises Off for indie film.
Instead, we get a rather obvious love story with the end-result never really in question. Even the big blowup that happens near the end of the film, the point when every guy in a romantic comedy screws the pooch and nearly loses the girl, was never believable. Anyone whos seen, well, any movie ever, knows what the outcome is going to be. You see, Judd Apatow knows how to push those anxious buttons. In both The 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up, I could see how the love interests wouldnt end up together if the writer had decided to go that route. Apatow presented those dilemmas and errors in judgment realistically, believably. Smith does not, and never really has been able to achieve that kind of verisimilitude outside of, perhaps, Clerks, which benefited greatly from being filmed in black-and-white (for cost reasons, not artistic ones, and that says more about the director and his talents more than any review probably ever will). I suppose I wont spoil what causes Zack and Miris rift, but lets just say that of course Zack didnt do it. To its own detriment, Zack and Miri Make a Porno is not that kind of movie.
Speaking of that title, Zack and Miri dont actually make a porno. Oh, they shoot one, but by the time the credits roll we never get a real glimpse of the finished product. Hell, Im not even sure there was a finished product by the end. Theres a scene where two characters sit in front of an editing console, but the film fades to black before we ever see if the movie gets released. To spend all that time focusing on the making of this movie, albeit in the most generic way possible, I really wanted to see what happened with it. Do Zack and Miri and all the rest finish it? Do they release it? Does it sell? Does it cure all their woes or simply create more problems? We dont know, and well never know, because Smith doesnt bother to show us.
Now, having said all of this, does the movie succeed on its own terms? Most of the time, yes. I laughed, out loud, quite a bit. Especially in the first act, everything before and through the high school reunion was hilarious. Possibly some of the most hilarious moments Smith has filmed in his career. (Who knew Justin Long was actually funny?) But once the moviemaking and the love story kick in, the jokes become few and far between. Smith must have realized this, which is why one particular scene contains the most graphic depiction of a fart joke Ive ever seen. I found it less funny, and more disgusting. Of course, Ill never forget it, either. In the end, this is probably Kevin Smiths most uneven movie to date admittedly, Ive never seen Jersey Girl though it is much, much, much stronger than Clerks 2. But thats like saying Family Guy is better Seth MacFarlane TV series than American Dad.
When it comes down it, I liked this movie. I gave it four stars on Netflix, but primarily because I couldnt give it 3 . Its worth seeing if you like any of the main players, but it will not stand the test of time. And thats unfortunate, because it could have been something far superior. Something personal, endearing, and classic, rather than something just pretends, or fails, to be those things.
I seem to be on a porn kick these days. Ive also recently watched Sex: The Annabel Chong Story and Porn Star: The Legend of Ron Jeremy. Neither of those movies is very good, but the latter does a brilliant job of capturing the titular mans humanity. He becomes both more and less than the "legend" in the 86-minute run time. The former, however, is mostly a waste of time due to its dearth of context.
Porn: the Ultimate Equalizer
Much has been made of Kevin Smiths new movie co-opting the Judd Apatow formula, even utilizing many players from the Apatow Troupe (Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, Craig Robertson, and Gerry Bednob in a silly, wasted cameo). Unfortunately, I cannot argue with this assessment. The appearance of some these actors is fairly distracting at first, especially when teamed with Smiths own standbys Jason Mewes and Jeff Anderson. It can certainly be argued that Apatow co-opted Smiths style for dick and fart jokes with nerdcore heart first, but if thats the case, the latter writer/director improved upon the originals formula. Sort of like how Einstein improved on Isaac Newton. These things dick flicks and physics have always been around, they were just waiting to be discovered.
What hasnt been discussed much, as far as Ive seen, is just how autobiographical Zack and Miri may be. As you may know, or can discern from the title, the film is about the making of a movie. The movie within the movie is made on a shoestring budget, cast with friends and acquaintances playing most of the parts, and shot inside the main characters place of business (a coffee shop) at night after its closed. As you may know, Kevin Smiths first movie, Clerks, was also made on the cheap, cast entirely with friends and people from his Jersey neighborhood, and filmed almost completely in the convenient store where he worked at the time. Also, Seth Rogen wears a beard and glasses for most of the movie. Kevin smith has a beard, and when hes not on camera, often wears glasses. Also, Zack winds up with a very attractive, out-of-his-league woman to spend the rest of his life with, which is another parallel to Smiths life (re: his wife, Jennifer Schwalbach, who makes her third appearance in her husbands movies, the first two being Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back and Clerks 2).
Im not sure if any of this was intentional, but there are far too many comparisons for this to be purely coincidental. However, if it was purposeful, then Smith really missed the boat. I would have been greatly interested and entertained to see Kevin Smiths ideas on making an independent film, even a porno. Especially the concept of shooting at night and then working all day which Ive done. The toll that takes on your body, your mind, your relationships. All in the name of following your passion, or at least, in this case, your last resort to become financially comfortable. A Shakespeare in Love or Opening Night or Noises Off for indie film.
Instead, we get a rather obvious love story with the end-result never really in question. Even the big blowup that happens near the end of the film, the point when every guy in a romantic comedy screws the pooch and nearly loses the girl, was never believable. Anyone whos seen, well, any movie ever, knows what the outcome is going to be. You see, Judd Apatow knows how to push those anxious buttons. In both The 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up, I could see how the love interests wouldnt end up together if the writer had decided to go that route. Apatow presented those dilemmas and errors in judgment realistically, believably. Smith does not, and never really has been able to achieve that kind of verisimilitude outside of, perhaps, Clerks, which benefited greatly from being filmed in black-and-white (for cost reasons, not artistic ones, and that says more about the director and his talents more than any review probably ever will). I suppose I wont spoil what causes Zack and Miris rift, but lets just say that of course Zack didnt do it. To its own detriment, Zack and Miri Make a Porno is not that kind of movie.
Speaking of that title, Zack and Miri dont actually make a porno. Oh, they shoot one, but by the time the credits roll we never get a real glimpse of the finished product. Hell, Im not even sure there was a finished product by the end. Theres a scene where two characters sit in front of an editing console, but the film fades to black before we ever see if the movie gets released. To spend all that time focusing on the making of this movie, albeit in the most generic way possible, I really wanted to see what happened with it. Do Zack and Miri and all the rest finish it? Do they release it? Does it sell? Does it cure all their woes or simply create more problems? We dont know, and well never know, because Smith doesnt bother to show us.
Now, having said all of this, does the movie succeed on its own terms? Most of the time, yes. I laughed, out loud, quite a bit. Especially in the first act, everything before and through the high school reunion was hilarious. Possibly some of the most hilarious moments Smith has filmed in his career. (Who knew Justin Long was actually funny?) But once the moviemaking and the love story kick in, the jokes become few and far between. Smith must have realized this, which is why one particular scene contains the most graphic depiction of a fart joke Ive ever seen. I found it less funny, and more disgusting. Of course, Ill never forget it, either. In the end, this is probably Kevin Smiths most uneven movie to date admittedly, Ive never seen Jersey Girl though it is much, much, much stronger than Clerks 2. But thats like saying Family Guy is better Seth MacFarlane TV series than American Dad.
When it comes down it, I liked this movie. I gave it four stars on Netflix, but primarily because I couldnt give it 3 . Its worth seeing if you like any of the main players, but it will not stand the test of time. And thats unfortunate, because it could have been something far superior. Something personal, endearing, and classic, rather than something just pretends, or fails, to be those things.
I seem to be on a porn kick these days. Ive also recently watched Sex: The Annabel Chong Story and Porn Star: The Legend of Ron Jeremy. Neither of those movies is very good, but the latter does a brilliant job of capturing the titular mans humanity. He becomes both more and less than the "legend" in the 86-minute run time. The former, however, is mostly a waste of time due to its dearth of context.
VIEW 15 of 15 COMMENTS
That's a good movie review. I have yet to see it yet, though. I think I gotta do that before I judge.