tomgillespie2002 Despite the obvious smuttiness of the title, Zack and Miri Make a Porno is one of writer/director Kevin Smith's sweetest, and most formulaic, films to date. Pushing it's 'R' rating to the limit with its combination of sexual innuendo, crude profanity and skin-on-skin action, Seth Rogen's cuddly and beardy Zack and Elizabeth Banks's bubbly and adorably inept Miri - life-long friends sharing a frozen Pittsburg apartment - are a particularly cutesy couple, and the slow realisation of their love for one another provides a nice and oddly believable romance.Having not paid their utility bills in months due to sheer bone idleness and Zack's weakness for making ridiculous online purchases, Zack and Miri are cut off and are left to huddle next to a home-made indoor fire in their overcoats. Whilst attending their high school reunion, Miri hopes to bump uglies with her former crush, Bobby Long (Brandon Routh), but discovers that he is now gay and in a relationship with gay porn star Brandon (Justin Long - a porn name if I ever heard one). Impressed with Brandon's success, Zack suggests to Miri that they make their own porn movie in the hope of making enough money to have the lights switched back on.At its best, Zack and Miri is very funny, with Craig Robinson's deadpan Delaney, Zack's co-worker who helps fund the project, providing the majority of the films most humorous moments. When it really should be the anti-When Harry Met Sally (1989), it misses a trick by following the rom-com gospel to a tee. Although it certainly doesn't shy away from the porn (Jason Mewes and Traci Lords get to enjoy most of that), its little more than a veil for a traditional "it was you all along!" romance. Still, even though it doesn't reach the heights of Smith's best works like Clerks (1994) and Chasing Amy (1997), there are plenty of laughs to be had for the casual audience and Smith cultists alike.

Python Hyena Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008): Dir: Kevin Smith / Cast: Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, Craig Robinson, Traci Lords, Jason Mewes: Comedy that addresses the amateur quality of porn flicks. Seth Rogan and Elizabeth Banks play roommates who resort to making a porn flick when they are threatened with a possible eviction. It is obvious that this couple will eventually surface their true feelings resulting in a conventional ending. Great idea directed with insight by Kevin Smith but it doesn't rank with his best work, which includes Chasing Amy, Clerks and Clerks 2. Rogen and Banks have great comic potential and here is a script with promising originality and rather than poke fun of the amateur quality of it all, they will do the obvious, which is tease viewers with romantic elements that were in plain sight to begin with. The ending is also a cheap payoff where certain people end up in certain places with lame explanations to clear everything up. Scene stealing supporting work by Craig Robinson who works at a coffee shop and is bullied by his wife. He has a hilarious scene where he audition actors. Traci Lords plays a porn actress with a knack for bubbles. Jason Mewes also makes a terrific stretch from his usual Jay persona to playing a porno star stripper with attitude. Expect graphic nudity but also expect to laugh at the absurdity of adult entertainment. Score: 7 / 10

George Roots (GeorgeRoots) I wanted to see it when it came out in 2008, alas I was 16 and too young. Now that I have seen it, for a good year it became the perfect background noise movie for when I was drawing.It's far from Kevin Smith's best work, but it was extremely funny. The level of profanity never really bothered me, and the totally gross-out moments here and there had me in tears of laughter. True the comparisons between this and a Judd Apatow movie can definitely be seen, even both leading actors were in "The 40 year old Virgin" (2005). Regardless, Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks pull out great comedic performances in another surprisingly good meaningful sex comedy.Final Verdict: Really awesome and warm spirited. 7/10.

Jerghal The whole Kev Smith gang's here and that is probably the best part of the film. The story itself is simple and very predictable. Zack & Miri are lifelong friends since high-school, but never amounted to anything so they need money and the quickest way is to make a porn film. Don't expect (much) nudity, it's still an R rated Hollywood production, not an NC-17 'real' porn movie. Rogen acts like he always acts (he's no Pacino), Banks is a lot better but she can only work with what's written. All in all a mediocre film. Kevin Smith seems to be a director who's career goes in reverse: his first film Clercks was his masterpiece and every new film he's made since has been worse than the previous one. That sure gives you some perspective for his new film Tusk. Let's hope Smith can turn the tide...