As Jackie Treehorn laments in The Big Lebowski, pornos these days lack plot, and production values, and feelings. Kevin Smith's "Zack and Miri Make a Porno" would make Jackie quite proud.

The basic plot revolves around two friends, Zack and Miri. The two have a platonic relationship and live together. As they hit dire financial straits, Zack suggests they should make a porno and sell it to make money to pay rent, utilities, etc.

I went into this film with some hesitation. I left quite impressed. Seth Rogen proves he can convey emotion and still be funny. Elizabeth Banks provides the perfect on-screen mate for Rogen. However, I feel, as did others who saw the preview, that Craig Robinson (Darrell from The Office) steals nearly every scene he is in.

Zack and Miri heartily earns its R rating. It is easy to see how the MPAA nearly rated it NC-17. No matter the rating, I would whole-heartedly recommend this movie to anyone (with the exception of grandparents).

The losers Zack Brown (Seth Rogen) and Miriam "Stinky" Linky (Elizabeth Banks) are friends since high-school and share an apartment with many unpaid bills. In a reunion party, they find that the former high-school star and crush of Miri is a porn actor of gay movies and they decide to make a porn to pay their bills. They cast the actors, actresses and crew, and Zack writes the screenplay. After having sex with Miri in the shooting, the platonic love of Zack changes to a deep love.

"Zack and Miri Make a Porn" is the nearest that I could expect from Kevin Smith for a love story or a romantic comedy. And it works perfectly! The story has many jokes, and Tracy Lords acting as Bubbles is hilarious considering the background of the beginning of the career of this charming actress. In spite of being a fan of Kevin Smith, this movie overcame my expectations. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): Not Available

Director Kevin Smith makes a slacker buddy porn comedy in Zack and Miri make a Porno. Zack and Miri are good friends living in a run down flat and not having enough money to pay the rent and bills and decide to make a porn film to roll in the cash, an idea they got after they met a former school friend at a High School reunion who revealed he was a gay porn star.

Smith makes the film rude and crude but deep inside is a sweet love story as Zack and Miri find out that they have a romantic tingling for each other which is more than just sex for the camera.

The film is amusing enough helped by the good chemistry between Elizabeth Banks and Seth Rogen although the film is prudish showing nude scenes with Banks. Craig Robinson provides amusing support. There are enough pop culture references and Smith regulars popping up to keep his fans happy.