Zack and Miri Make a Porno

How is it that in just a few moments of a single movie, Kevin Smith strikes the romantic chord in our hearts stronger than all of the Julia Robertses and Meg Ryans put together? And despite these moments being surrounded by jokes relating to blowjobs and cunnilingus? Kevin Smith is a light in the darkness of Hollywood artificiality. (2009-04-28)

Kevin Smith often walks a fine line of taste and intentionally provokes the mainstream in his films. However, those who enjoyed the slackers in his early comedies and were not offended by the film Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back will easily enjoy Zack and Miri Make a Porno, even though Smith is being provocative with the title alone. I like his humor and I am open to it, but in this case, I came across boundaries that somewhat spoiled my enjoyment of the film. Smith knows when to slow down and tone down a situation that threatens to become outright vulgar, but paradoxically, I am more bothered by the lack of chemistry between the main characters and, above all, their strange relationship. I am willing to believe many things, but I don't intend to believe in romantic lovemaking in front of the camera and a bunch of onlookers. While I consider Chasing Amy to be an excellent romance, where the relationship between the two partners is believable despite all the twists and bizarre situations, in this film, it is an artificial and purposeless construction with occasional sympathetic humor and exaggeration. Overall impression: 55%. (2011-03-10)

No one could have mixed this mixture of porn, sharp and even sharper humor, pop culture references and romance better than Kevin Smith. Zack and Miri has a little bit of everything and that's a good thing. Highlights include a Star Wars porn parody, a scene with a guy who comes to get coffee even though the diner has long since closed, and a reunion of high school seniors years later. It's a pity that the film ends with a typical romantic cliché, but even Smith can't avoid that. Zack and Miri gets four stars from me because it entertained and (except for one disgusting thing - I simply hate fecal humor) didn't offend. (2010-08-06)

Even porn is art, it just has to be appreciated. But otherwise, it's a "traditional" Kevin Smith romance that breathes on the back of Chasing Amy. It’s definitely not the weakest Smith film, just a little different, or maybe a little more commercial, but it’s still its own, honest, and above all funny. And Elizabeth Banks is an angel. (2009-01-25)

This comedic family suits me immensely, mainly because there are actors here that one knows from previous Smith's films. I don't really like Rogen much lately, but he is still bearable here. I don't like the romantic aspect, but otherwise the humor works very well. Some scenes are absolute gems and you can't get them out of your head. (2015-03-23)