The story of Zack and Miri (played by Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks) is of two best friends who -- while obvious to the audience that they're meant for one another -- try to keep their friendship platonic while stuck in a run-down apartment, bad jobs and mundane existences. Their situation is made clearer during a high-school reunion where Zack and Miri decide (not easily) that the quick and lucrative way out of their problems is to do their own porno film. This comes with issues, however, seeing as they can hardly afford to live. They decide to draw in some other porn hopefuls to help in the effort including Smith's comedy-gold confidantes Jason Mewes and Jeff Anderson. The film also boasts excellent roles by Justin Long and The Office's Craig Robinson. And while the laughs are loud and constant throughout the film, it is with this great group of supporting characters that the film's finest, most uproariously funny scenes and dialogue occur. Every actor from Anderson -- who spews some of the film's best lines -- to Robinson and Long -- whose characters are so amusingly awesome that they warrant their own film -- are the very definition of a superb comedic cast. Despite the film's subject matter, the film keeps focused on the ironically innocent relationship between Zack and Miri and on their layered friendship. They both start seeing more in each other throughout the movie. And finally, the wacky execution of their porno scene is one of the film's best moments.
Make no doubt about it, Zack and Miri (rated R for for strong crude sexual content including dialogue, graphic nudity and pervasive language) is an insanely hilarious yet heart-filled film, and one worth seeing with a theaterful of others who are laughing just as hard as you are. It's pleasing to see Smith contribute once more to the kind of foul mouthed yet brilliant and raunchy but lovable films that he helped to popularize over the years. It is Smith's best all-around film since Clerks and among the best comedies released this decade. Strongly recommended.
--Eric Zacarias is currently a senior at Mount Miguel High School. Aside from watching movies, he spends his plethora of free time writing on all spectrums, reading books, playing music, drawing badly, being a video-game dork, cooking and following professional sports. He hopes to have a career in filmmaking as a screenwriter and director.
