Urban Thought Collective

Biases: C’mon - look at the title!

Major Players: Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, Craig Robinson, Justin Long, Jason Mewes, writer/director Kevin Smith

Logline: Cash-strapped lifelong best friends and roommates Zack (Rogen) and Miri (Banks) decide to make an adult film, only to find that there may be more to their friendship when they’re the stars of their own movie.

The Deal:
Miri: “How come if it’s so easy to do, why doesn’t everyone do it?”

Zack: “Because they have options and dignity - something we don’t have!”

Living that line, agent profane-ateur Smith asks the question what happens to a relationship after you’ve had sex with your best friend? Under a fusillade of F-bombs, of course. Cheap laughs are to be had by the dozens, thanks to a scattershot script with a very fun but effective by half “spaghetti the wall” approach to comedy. Many of the jokes don’t work, although something about frosting a cake will never be the same.

This being a View Askew joint, Smith cobbles together a motley crew of horndogs from past pics (“Clerks,” “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back”) to “work” the porno, including a welcome newcomer to the Kevin Smith Company of Effin’ Players, “The Office”’s Craig Robinson as henpecked Delaney, the producer (as his wife, Tisha Campbell is a waste of a cameo; daaaaaaaayum, Gina!). A barely recognizable without his skully and rocker-reject mane of hair Jason Mewes (“Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back”) is consistently hilarious as a novice porn star.

Elizabeth Banks, a ’90s Meg Ryan in training, is simple adorability while Rogen’s doughy, average charm is applied to being one committed ball of Jewfro energy; I mean, if you can’t get “up” for a porno (sorry, couldn’t resist)…Justin Long- he of the Apple TV commercials (he’s a Mac, of course), is riotous fun as a deep-throated gay porn star (I’m not punning this time, I swear!) whose lover is shy but hunky Brandon Routh (yes, the new “Superman” dude). Just from Long’s two scenes alone, - Pat Riley oil slick, velvet smoking jacket, and psychotically wide open eyes and all - is worth the price of admission. Almost.

Albeit a well-intentioned one, Smith’s newest flick is a romantic comedy hiding in porn’s clothing. “Zack & Miri” may make a porno, but not much else.

@@ REELS

(TWO REELS)

Extra medium.

UTC’s resident film critic Edwardo Jackson is the author of the novels EVER AFTER and NEVA HAFTA, (Villard/Random House), a writer for The 213 Magazine, and an LA-based screenwriter. Visit his website at www.edwardojackson.com where his new novel I DO? is available NOW.