Zack and Miri Make a Porno Review

Kevin Smith is a pop culture nerd and this is part of the reason why I love him. I first became smitten around 1996 when I first saw Clerks and fell even deeper with Mallrats, Chasing Amy, and Dogma.

But then Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back came out and it was just kind of meh. I wasn't really interested in Jersey Girl and Clerks II seemed like a travesty. I began to wonder if me and Kevin Smith had had our good times but needed to part ways.

But then last year I heard that Smith was filming a movie in Pittsburgh...something about a porno...and I heard that Seth Rogan was starring in it. Sounded promising.

Then the trailer popped up online earlier this year. It instantly warmed my heart as a lifelong Pittsburgher, with our local Iron City beer prominently featured and plenty of references to Monroeville, the setting of George Romero's classic Dawn of the Dead. But it also just looked really funny.

A couple of weeks ago, I heard that the Oaks Theater was hosting a special advance screening of Zack and Miri Make a Porno and Kevin Smith would be there to host a Q&A. I bought tickets as soon as I could and this past Saturday I had the pleasure of experiencing the unique treat of watching an awesome movie and gushing over the director immediately afterward.

I am so happy to report that Zack and Miri is classic Kevin Smith. The script is full of pop culture nuggets and dirty jokes and is just hilarious. I'm planning on seeing it again in the theater this weekend just so I can hear the good 30% of the movie that was drowned out by laughter the first time around. Elizabeth Banks is a fantastic comedic actress and she and Rogan play off of each other very well. The romance that develops between their characters is believable and extremely touching.

The cast is small and the supporting characters all add hilarity, particularly Craig Robinson and Jason Mewes, who both get to deliver multiple classic lines.

As a Pittsburgher, I have to commend Smith for capturing the city so well. During his Q&A, he said that he wanted to capture that feeling of "cold and bleak...the last place on earth that anyone would want to fuck." I don't think the Chamber of Commerce will be using that line any time soon, but the endless bitter winter and general demeanor of the citizens was perfect. I also had to pump my fist in the air at the general decor of Zack and Miri's apartment, complete with beer signs and cheap wood paneling, and at their daily adventure of starting their car, a busted old Bonneville. Plus, he threw in plenty of nods to local characters, such as an obliviously drunk yinzer who wanders onto the porno set and just wants to talk about the Steelers game and a cameo by Tom Savini.

This is certainly Smith's best film since Chasing Amy. Go see it!

 

Comments

[Black Hockey Jesus]

I loved Clerks II.

[Lisa]

Whoa! I grew up in Oakmont and saw all the childhood classics at the Oaks. Which looked a little different in the 70s, I must say. Nice to see it has been refurbished.

We will check this out for sure... I think my favorite all-time Pittsburgh movie has to be Wonder Boys, though.

[jennifer]

"I don't think the Chamber of Commerce will be using that line any time soon" - LOL. thanks for the post. i'm a jersey girl and was falling out of love with kevin too.... glad this is something of his to look forward to.

[Gray Matter]

Dammit, Jennifer stole my "props."

I'm glad it was good...now what's the over/under on how many people think this is a Judd Apatow movie?

[makyo]

i loved clerks II and jersey girl as well, which i think was very underrated. it's not as much of a typical kevin smith film, but is just a really sweet story. i thought jay & silent bob strike back was a piece of crap, though.

[FM]

I can't wait.
I thought that after I lost 75lbs people would stop telling me I looked like Kevin Smith, but it hasn't stopped - I guess I have to lose more.