"Zack and Miri Make a Porno" offers more proof that Kevin Smith may have lost it. Whatever "it" that he ever had in the first place.
The already controversial sex comedy finds screenwriter-director Smith trying desperately to "top" his comedy competition in the outrage department. Yet it also tries to be sweet and redemptive.
But that doesn't work, and the whole thing feels forced and insincere.
And as the title suggests, the film follows two cash-strapped roommates, Zack (Seth Rogen) and Miri (Elizabeth Banks), who decide to make an "adult" movie so they can actually pay some of their long-delinquent bills.
The always appealing Banks is the one good thing the film has going for it. Rogen is simply rehashing his tiresome slacker/doofus routine.
Also, there are far fewer big laughs than in previous, better Smith films. Maybe he should try making something other than comedies now.
"Zack and Miri Make a Porno" is rated R and contains crude sexual and scatological humor (sight gags and references), strong sexual language (profanity and vulgar slang), full female and male nudity, simulated sex and other sexual contact, derogatory language (including slurs based on sexual preference), brief violence (hockey action and vehicular mayhem), and brief drug references. Running time: 101 minutes.
E-MAIL: jeff@desnews.com