Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008)

Elevator Pitch: Zack and Miri are old school pals who have ended up sharing an apartment together. They have difficulty making ends meet, despite their jobs, he in a coffee shop, she in a mall and one evening, as they are preparing for a school reunion, Miri is changing in the store of the coffee shop, and is filmed on the phone of a teenager, in her pants. They go to the reunion, and while she is attempting to seduce her hrartthrob from school he pulls out the video. She is distressed, but it gives Zack the idea of making a porn movie to get them out of their financial difficulties. How hard can it be, he thinks. Well…

Content: So you’ve seen the title. There is a lot of nudity and simulated sex, sometimes involving a young women with unfeasably large breasts. There is a lot of fun in the auditions and the preparation for the film which is to be called “Star Whores” and provides an opportunity for sexy space costumes. Then their studio is burnt down, and we see them making the film in the coffee shop after closing time. As an aside there is some drinking. Zack and Miri are involved in the porn and when they are filmed together we see that their relationship has changed.

A View: The two main characters are an engaging couple, but after what was a fun start things started to go downhill, particularly once they are required to engage in sex together. The ex porn stars involved go to it with a will, but Miri and Zack were totally unconvincing in their scene. I’m not complaining about Elizabeth Banks not getting her gear off, but they should either have cast someone else or toned down the other performances. There was one event which disgusted me. It is a romantic comedy, by the way, but in the end  with very limited appeal. Maybe a watch with your mates (male or female) while consuming a few beers.

Additional Info: Even the poster was banned in many US states since it showed the main couple maybe engaged in oral sex.