Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Zack and Miri Make a Porno’

Written by John Edward Betancourt 

There's been a point for all of us in our lives when money is pretty much non-existent for us. Such an event forces us to eat on a budget; and it leaves us hoping we have scraped up enough cash to keep the lights on and well, a lack of cash simply puts us in outright survival mode. Sometimes this struggle goes on for longer than we want, and when it ends there is incredible relief at not having to count our pennies every minute of the day. 

But, going through such a problem isn’t all bad. After all, being that broke allows for some serious soul searching to occur. Plus, it can galvanize a person to put themselves onto a path of success or leave them as bitter as can be. But that's what hardship does for all of us, it teaches us something be it good or bad. So. leave it to Kevin Smith to find a way to combine all of those truths within the framework of the hilarious comedy, Zack and Miri Make a Porno.

Zack and Miri are the best of friends and well...they're about as broke as it gets. Living from paycheck to paycheck is simply the norm for them, and it's only getting tougher since the power in their apartment was recently turned off. It seems there is no hope, until a video shot by two annoying teenagers at Zack's work of Miri goes viral, and it inspires Zack to come up with an idea that may solve all their problems...they need to make a porno movie on their own, and reap the financial benefits.

---

Of the films we've discussed so far from Kevin Smith's career...Zack and Miri Make a Porno is by far one of his funniest works.  There were tears for me when it came to this one, simply because of how hilarious not only the premise of the film is, but how wonderfully crafted the jokes are. For example, there is a scene were Zack and Miri audition actors from a local acting troupe for a role in their upcoming porno, and they have the actors read lines from their delightfully dirty script, and the actors do it in legitimate style.  

That's the kind of zany humor you will find in this film, but you'll also find the other Kevin Smith staple that’s showing up in his later films; that slice of everyday life, since who doesn’t understand the plight of these two characters since we’ve all struggled to pay the rent. But this movie also offers up so much more, for it is also a love story, the kind that reminds to take the time to really look at our lives and see what the people in front of us mean to us and oddly enough, the importance of following a dream since Zack in essence finds his calling here and goes the distance in seeing his vision come to fruition.  

This one really is one of Kevin Smith's finest comedies, simply because the plot is so wild and crazy that you don't expect to find such incredible ideas within the confines of the story, but all the basics are there. This is another one to catch if you've missed it and it is definitely worth a second or third viewing to catch all the jokes you miss while you are doubled over laughing, the first time around.

---