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It could have produced something very awkward to have Seth Rogen, a fan of Kevin Smith’s work who admits to being greatly influenced by the filmmaker’s style, making a movie with the Kevin Smith of today. Maybe he would try to force Smith to make the sort of film he always imagined making with the Clerks director as opposed to the one the filmmaker was carrying around in his head. As the comedic it guy of the moment and a formidable writer and producer in his own right, perhaps Rogen would disregard his seasoned director and try to make the film his own, resulting in a power struggle that left the film all the worse for it. Or maybe even if they got along the whole thing would just be too self aware, a film that is almost a parody of itself. But thankfully Rogen and Smith mesh smoothly, and besides some Apatow-ish casting choices and a few obvious improvs that don’t necessarily fit in with the tightly controlled scripts of Smith films past, it doesn’t appear that the writer/director relegated any of his behind the scenes power. And regardless of how much good came from Rogen’s performance, Smith’s sense of humor is as sharp as ever; this is unquestionably his funniest script since his 90s heyday.

The plotline of their collaboration is elegant in its simplicity; on the brink of eviction and already living without heat, water or electricity, lifelong platonic friends Zack (Rogen) and Miri (Elizabeth Banks) decide to make a low budget porno film to raise some quick cash. After a predictably awkward high school reunion (one of the best sequences of the film), the two figure that everyone they went to school with would be titillated enough at the idea of seeing former classmates having sex to make enough purchases to get them out of debt. But as the best buds build up to their crucial and climatic (pun totally intended) sex scene, they realize that they may in fact be more than just friends. Eventually, as the premise would suggest, the film does melt into something of a generic romantic comedy, albeit a sweet and still funny variation. The first half, the vulgar and raunchy one that doesn’t really hint at any romance, is definitely a lot funnier than the second. It makes you wonder if perhaps both Smith and Rogen have gotten a little more watered down these days – but the ending of Mallrats and all of Drillbit Taylor prove that both Rogen and Smith have previously shown a proclivity for taking the clichéd way out. But whereas in their earlier films, the finales felt like something of a tweak on convention, here it borders on being a resolution that is merely content to be conventional.

But despite the been there, seen that ending, Zack and Miri Make a Porno is definitely a good film and a very funny one. It will likely be by far Smith’s most successful, and most accepted by the mainstream. But since the advertising is all about Rogen and pretty much hasn’t even mentioned who wrote and directed it - I’d say the ads are even emphasizing Elizabeth Banks’ star power over that of Kevin Smith - the success has to feel at least a little bittersweet to the longtime filmmaker. After Zack and Miri ends its run, Smith has to realize that casting has played a big part in his past films not making very much money; if we all agree that the auteur has tried to officially crack into the mainstream from Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back on, we must also agree that having himself and Jason Mewes as the top billed “stars”, then Ben Affleck and a little girl, and then those two guys from Clerks but 12 years fatter does not equal box office success by any stretch of the imagination. But “it guy” Seth Rogen, the hot chick from The 40 Year Old Virgin and a guy from The Office do – and the fact that the script is also one of Smith’s best only helps assure its success.

Grade: B+

- Jeff Latta