The success of this movie is a little mind-boggling. There is really no particular reason that this movie should work. It sounds like a parody, or a really terrible b flick. And viewers will get exactly what they expect here: this is a movie about two people making a porn movie together. It has no frills, and doesn’t spare much visually. That said, this movie is the funniest thing since Superbad.
Recommended for fans of: Sarah Silverman, Californication, Clerks of course, and anything else that pushes the envelope so far, fans may be unsure whether it's okay to be laughing as hard as they are. The beautiful thing about this comedy is that the jokes are not dependent on the gross-out factor. This is no Adam Sandler movie. The writing is solid, and the performances are hysterical. The porn is part of the plot, not the butt of a thousand predictable jokes.
Has Zach and Miri Been Done Before?
Last year, a movie called The Amateurs came out, featuring Jeff Bridges and Patrick Fugit. It was about a bunch of small-town, middle-aged dweebs coming together to work on a porn movie. None of them knew what they were doing (hence the title), but they needed money and decided that porn was the way to go. It is oddly heart-warming. Jeff Bridges plays the most down to earth, “aw shucks” movie producer ever seen. The Amateurs was a movie about friendship, sticking together, and genuine love.
Zack and Miri plays like Kevin Smith watched The Amateurs and thought, “I’m not offended yet.” His movie has similar themes of course, and the friendship between the title characters is nothing if not believable and touching.
Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks Click
At first suggestion, these two actors do not seem to fit. Elizabeth Banks seems to be a trend in comedy right now, and has been doing parts in everything from Fred Claus to Meet Dave to, most recently, Role Models. She’s routinely cast as the token hot girl, so it’s refreshing to see her play a complete slacker role, opposite king of losers Seth Rogen.
The two of them are perfect together, and the best scenes of the movie are merely their sibling-like bickering. Near the beginning, there is an incident involving Miri’s accidental partial nudity, which is the catalyst for the rest of the plot. She is trying on outfits for their high school reunion, and some high school boys catch her half-dressed on tape. Zack sees them giggling and goes to her rescue, blocking her from their camera with a PG13 view all his own. This moment also hints pretty heavily at his feelings for her, so it’s not entirely unsupported when romance develops later on in the movie.
Mesh of Genres Somehow Works
Ironically, this movie is being released on DVD just in time for Valentine’s Day, and though it’s not in any way a typical chick flick, there is definitely a sweet and sappy ending. The first half of the movie or so is devoted solidly to comedy, and it is a smashing success. The second half is largely about the relationship between these two friends, and it’s arguably just as successful. The sentiments are still framed in comedy, but their reunion should satisfy anyone looking for a happy ending.
