5 Words: Sexy+Cheesy= Seriously Big Laughs

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I'll admit, I am not the target demographic for Zack and Miri Make a Porno. A 21-year-old girl with a more conservative view on humor who hates gross-out jokes is probably NOT who director Kevin Smith when he made this film.

Still, the genius who gave us Dogma, Clerks, and Chasing Amy managed not only to provide a movie that didn't (completely) gross me out but made me laugh hysterically multiple times as well.

Zack and Miri Make a Porno tells the tale of two heterosexual best friends who live together-- but are not dating. Though the saying says that men and women can never be "just friends," Zack (Seth Rogen) and Miri (Elizabeth Banks) seem to have it down. What they aren't as good at, though, is paying their bills. After their water and electricity get shut off on a cold night, Zack has a "breakthrough" moment: why not make a porno? The rag tag team becomes a ragtag family, when their "producer" (The Office's Craig Robinson) and stars (including Jason Mewes in fine form) get together, and hilarity (and love) ensue.

While the movie was slightly predictable (it had the structure of your basic romance plot), it was Smith's writing, subject manner, and tone that made it so much fun. The film was completely irreverent and totally enjoyable. Add to this some really hilarious and phenomenal acting (including Traci Lords, one of the only porn-to-mainstream stars around, and a HILARIOUS supporting role by Justin Long) and the film shined as a totally enjoyable experience.

Smith was even able to keep out MOST of the gross-out humor. There is ONE scene in the beginning of the third act that is really just too much-- not just because it was absolutely disgusting and I hate scatalogical humor with a passion--but because in a film that had been so sweet and refusing to exploit its content, it felt out of place.

Overall, Zack and Miri is everything you expect it to be, but still a completely good romp. Stay tuned at the end of the credits, for a really really fun tag line.