A quintessential slacker-stoner Gen-X writer-director, Kevin Smith has given up uneven comedies and dramas such as Clerks, Jersey Girl, Chasing Amy and Dogma. This time, he's following his friend Judd Apatow's footstep in making gross-out romantic comedies, starring one of Apatow's stars Seth Rogen.
Zack (Seth Rogen) and Miri (Elizabeth Banks) have been roommates for ten years, and the prospect of them being romantic involved is so gross that they're very comfortable with being best friends and roommates. However, they're living from paychecks to paychecks, and are on the verge of being evicted from their crummy apartment. At their high school reunion, Zack is inspired by former classmate Bobby's (Brandon Routh) boyfriend (Justin Long), who is a gay porn actor. He has the bright idea for Miri and him to get out of their financial jam: by making and selling their own porno.
At first Miri is hesitant about it, but Zack reassures her that nothing is going to change between them. Sex is just sex. The pair secures a small investment from their "producer," fellow coffee shop employee Delaney (Craig Robinson). They also recruit local "actors" such as exotic dancers Stacey (Katie Morgan) and Bubbles (Traci Lords), and Lester (Jason Mewes) who has a "special talent."
A setback threatens to shut down the production, when Zack has a brilliant idea of turning the coffee shop into a set. Everything is going well until Zack and Miri finally shoot their sex scene together. They realize they actually have feelings for each other, and that complicates things.
Seth Rogen (Pineapple Express) pretty much has monopolized the market as the slacker/stoner/overweight romantic leading man. Here, he's doing what he does best, what with his unpretentious but crude demeanors. Certainly he has his appeal to women: he's teddy bear-cuddly and not intimidating. It would be interesting to see Rogen grow out of that niche with The Green Hornet. Meanwhile, Elizabeth Banks (W) shows her range by playing a totally different person than Laura Bush in W. She reminds us that she can be really funny without being gross.
The supporting cast seems to have a good time making this film. Kevin Smith's longtime muse, Jason Mewes (Clerks II), bares it all playing the "talented" Lester. His portrayal of the totally clueless but also harmless porn star wannabe is some of the highlights of the movie. Brandon Routh (Superman Returns) and Justin Long (Live Free and Die Hard) have a great time playing a gay couple. Long, in particular, goes all out playing the gay porn star who likes to talk about his work just a bit too much.
Craig Robinson (Pineapple Express) is lovable as the reluctant coffee guy-turn-porn producer. His naiveté and bluntness are good for a laugh. Ricky Mabe (Trailer Park of Terror) has a small role as one of the porn stars but his performance is the weakest link. And what's a movie about making porn without some real porn stars? Katie Morgan and the legendary Traci Lords (Will & Grace) play a pair of female porn stars with zest -- they seem to really know what they are doing.
The screenplay by writer-director Kevin Smith (Jersey Girl) is generally funny and consistent with a lot of extremely crude jokes and pervasive language. The dialogue is generally believable: I know a lot of people who talk like that in real life. Some of the scenes are hilarious because he captures the awkwardness of amateur porn. The high school reunion, for example, is painfully spot on and embarrassing, even though it does feel rather "old-school."
The problem with the script isn't that it's not funny -- it is, by using a lot of potty and smutty humor. It's not even because it's infantile -- Judd Apatow is very good at that, and clearly Kevin Smith has a track record as well. The problem is, in order to create these hilarious situations yet still maintain the romantic core of the story, Smith sacrifices the character development. The change in Zack seems sudden. The character of Miri just isn't believable. It's not the fault of Elizabeth Banks; she does well with what she's given. The problem is the character was written for another actress: Janeane Garofalo, for example -- someone who is less pretty and classy, but more dorky and socially inapt. When the only reason why Miri would agree to making the porno is that she needs money and both her parents are dead, something is off there.Zack and Miri's relationship is also problematic. First of all, it's difficult to believe that a straight man and a straight woman can be best friends and roommates for 10 years. And they talk about sex and everything with each other with the kind of frankness that would make two brothers blush. And most unbelievable is how they suddenly realize they're in love while making a porno. The romantic core of the story is just too flimsy. It sounds more like an excuse than a real character development.
It's not to say it's a complete failure. There are seriously funny moments, and the camaraderie between the actors is excellent. I do think Smith goes overboard with some of the potty humor and smut, but given the context of the story, I'll tolerate that. As a comedy, it makes me laugh. But somehow it's trying too hard to be yet another Knocked Up or 40-Year-Old Virgin, but falls short on the character and dramatic side. Smith hits you on the head over and over with the laughs. It lacks the emotional impact or the subtlety. The result is somewhere in between. It's too raunchy for a romantic comedy, but too lame for porn.
Stars: Elizabeth Banks, Seth Rogen, Jason Mewes, Brandon Routh, Justin Long, Ricky Mabe, Katie Morgan, Craig Robinson, Traci Lords
Director: Kevin Smith
Writer: Kevin Smith
Distributor: Weinstein Company
MPAA Rating: R for strong crude sexual content including dialogue, graphic nudity and pervasive language
Running Time: 102 Minutes
Ratings:
Script – 6
Performance – 7
Direction – 6
Cinematography – 6
Music/Sound– 7
Editing – 7
Production – 7
Total – 6.7 out of 10
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