recommended

A very feeble attempt at affirmatie action

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Desperate to raise enough money to pay their mounting bills and rent, two platonic flatmates decide to film and star in a homemade pornographic movie, but things get complicated when they realise that they might really love each other in this lively Kevin Smith comedy. As usual, Smith litters the film with entertaining supporting characters, with Jason Mewes particularly interesting, repressing his Jay mannerisms to play an uninhibited amateur porn actor, and Justin Long as a gay professional in the business has rarely been funnier. Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks also make for likable leads, however, the overall film comes off as a notch below Smith's par. Predictability is a key issue here as it is telegraphed from very early on that the protagonists will realise that they love each other and get jealous on set. More detrimental though is the way Smith allows sentimentality to overtake his penchant for quirky humour. Sentiment is not uncommon in Smith films; 'Mallrats' and 'Chasing Amy' (arguably his best movies) have sentiment in spades, but in both cases, it is squeezed in and around the kooky supporting characters and raunchy jokes. Here, the plot seems to halt whenever Rogen and Banks reassess their feelings for one another. Never to mind, 'Zack and Miri Make a Porno' has far more highs than lows. The makeshift movie studios, non-professional costumes and boom mike incidents are funny, the 'Star Wars' referencing is a lot of fun and the zany extras in the middle of the end credits ensure the film ends on a strong note.

A fine return to form for Kevin Smith. After making one of the greatest debut movies of all time, Clerks, he then made some very good features, in Mallrats, Chasing Amy and Dogma. What followed was distinctly lacklustre - Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Jersey Girl, Clerks II. This puts him back on track.Very funny, the dialogue is snappy and fresh. While the movie is a comedy, it is great. It is a pity that Smith took the romance angle too seriously, as the romantic plot is fairly lame, and has too much weight. If it had been 100% comedy, it would have been fantastic.Good acting by Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks, plus a great over-the- top performance by Craig Robinson.

Director Kevin Smith makes a slacker buddy porn comedy in Zack and Miri make a Porno. Zack and Miri are good friends living in a run down flat and not having enough money to pay the rent and bills and decide to make a porn film to roll in the cash, an idea they got after they met a former school friend at a High School reunion who revealed he was a gay porn star.Smith makes the film rude and crude but deep inside is a sweet love story as Zack and Miri find out that they have a romantic tingling for each other which is more than just sex for the camera.The film is amusing enough helped by the good chemistry between Elizabeth Banks and Seth Rogen although the film is prudish showing nude scenes with Banks. Craig Robinson provides amusing support. There are enough pop culture references and Smith regulars popping up to keep his fans happy.

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.