Zack and Miri Make a Porno

It's possible I was a little too harsh on Role Models. Yes it was fairly predictable, pretty basic dialog and not painfully funny all the way through. But in comparison with other recent R rated comedy at least I sort of left feeling positive even if it was in a slightly sappy way.

Why this change of heart? - I suspect it has something to do with Zack and Miri Make a Porno. When I first saw the trailers for this I pretty much wrote it off. Then when I realized it was a Kevin Smith movie I pretty much signed up to watch it. Even trudged out on opening night - a rare occurrence for me these days.

First the good...

• It's the most descriptively named film of the last year - possibly the decade. It's about two roommates named Zack and Miri who faced with impending financial disaster decide to make a pornographic film to raise money for rent. They enlist a motley crew of folks and set to work.
• It has moments of entertaining dialog in the signature Smith "voice" - it's nice to have that back, even if it's just for a little while.
• Genuinely has some funny moments.

Depending on your tastes it may have one of the funniest or most disgusting site gags ever committed to film. I'm pretty much on the latter side - but that's just me.

But overall it just doesn't rise to the level of his better efforts. While funny, there's no scene equivalent to the one in Chasing Amy where I was afraid I'd hurt myself laughing. And I doubt it will have the replay value that makes me stop and watch anytime I pass Mallrats on cable. If you haven't seen either of those two - do that first.

The main complaint I suppose is that it's so overwhelmingly predictable that it distracted me from just going along for the ride. It's not like I was expecting a twist in the last scene - but when you pretty much know exactly how things are going to play out sometimes it's hard to really care that much about the characters.

So if you're a Kevin Smith fan you're going to see it - otherwise my recommendation is a little less positive than most of the other reviews I've seen published. Trailer is below - be advised to give a better sense I've pulled the NSFW one.