Zach and Miri Make a Porno

I understand what Kevin Smith was trying to do here, I think. He wanted to combine a raunchy, "R"-rated porn farce with a sweet romantic comedy. The problem is, certain things shouldn't be mixed together. Tequila and Dr. Pepper. Britney Spears and clipping shears. Raider fans and fire. Add Zach and Miri Make a Porno to the "failed experiments" list.

The first 45 minutes or so work well enough. I especially enjoyed the scene at their high school reunion where Superman and the Mac are gay lovers. There's the usual plethora of Kevin Smith dick jokes; the Star Wars porno they're making actually looks hilarious.

The film goes off the rails when it shifts from crass to cheesy. Zach and Miri must consummate their up-until-now platonic relationship on film. It's not romantic. It's gross. It made me legitimately uncomfortable. Such an intimate moment should not occur on film. Porn is voyeuristic by nature; actual "lovemaking" between two people who are just now discovering their love for each other should not take place in front of a cadre of onlookers, with the camera rolling. The whole thing is icky.

The scene doesn't work on a romantic level, nor does it work on a risque, pushing-the-boundaries level. It would've at least been daring had Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks bared all for their scene, as one would expect in a porno movie. Instead, they keep their clothes on and leave the nudity for porn veteran Katie Morgan and a tattooed, pierced Jason Mewes.

It becomes a completely different film at this point, basically a re-tread of When Harry Met Sally. The edgy, bawdy movie I'd been enjoying was gone, replaced by a predictable romantic comedy.

Kevin Smith is still looking for that elusive mainstream success, but hopefully he learned that Boogie Nights+Jersey Girl = box office poison.

Nolanometer Final Grade: C