Plot: What’s it about?
Zack (Seth Rogan) and Miri (Elizabeth Banks) have been lifelong friends, even roommates now a decade after the end of high school. The two have shared almost everything in their time together, but they’ve never gotten intimate. She might take a dump with the door open and he might get drunk and try to self suck, but they still have some boundaries in place. But when their dire financial situation results in their water and power being shut off, they know drastic action is needed. Thanks to some inspiration from a couple of gay gentlemen, Zack and Miri decide to make a porno. The income should get them out of debt, but in the process, they’ll have to cross that final line and have sex. Will the production of “Star Whores” prove to be the saving grace they hope, or will this only serve to push them closer to rock bottom?
Although I am not a big fan of Kevin Smith’s films, I had decent expectations for this one. The cast looked solid and it looked like a step off Smith’s well tread usual path, which would be good news. In the end, Zack and Miri Make a Porno is one of the worst handled movies I’ve seen in a long while. A good premise, a solid comedic ensemble, but Smith bungles it with lame writing and his tendencies to shoehorn in his friends. I know fans of Smith’s previous films love the appearances of his regulars, but it seems out of place in this, what is otherwise not a “View Askew” typical production. In addition, Smith drops the ball when it comes to how to handle the romantic tension of the leads, never able to find good footing. Instead he rushes through the process, leaving us with no kind of believable emotion. I wanted to like this movie, but Smith proves he is best suited to stick with Jay and Silent Bob and only his devoted fans should seek out this release.
Video: How does it look?
Zack and Miri Make a Porno is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. I found this to be a great transfer, but it isn’t up there with the best high definition releases. The image here looks natural and sharp, with very good detail levels and depth, especially in closer shots. The visual design is rather bland, so the visuals rarely pop off the screen, but as I said, you will know this is a high definition treatment. The colors look bright and natural, while flesh tones are right on target. No contrast issues either, leaving us with a solid, up to snuff presentation.
Audio: How does it sound?
A Dolby TrueHD 5.1 option is included, but it is by no means a memorable soundtrack. The music does come alive through the surrounds, but aside from that, presence is minimal. This movie is all dialogue, all the time, so the track is laid back, but that is how it should be. The vocals are as clear as a bell however, so all the dialogue is easy to understand. Not much else to talk about with this one, just a basic dialogue driven soundtrack. This disc also includes a Dolby Digital 5.1 option, French language track, and subtitles in English and Spanish.
Supplements: What are the extras?
Popcorn Porn kicks us off, with a little over an hour of behind the scenes material. The duration suggests that is an in depth look inside the production, but that isn’t the case. This is more candid than most promotional materials, but doesn’t go beyond the basics you hear about on press junkets. So better than a standard featurette, but this isn’t a exhaustive inspection. Other featurettes are segments from the 2008 Comic-Con and a look at how some of the stars loved to improvise dialogue during the shoot. This disc also includes some outtakes, webisodes, and over 40 deleted scenes.
