SCREEN IT! PARENTAL REVIEW: ZACK AND MIRI MAKE A PORNO

"ZACK AND MIRI MAKE A PORNO"
(2008) (Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks) (R)

Alcohol/ Drugs	Blood/Gore	Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude	Frightening/ Tense Scenes	Guns/ Weapons
Heavy	Moderate	Heavy	None	Minor

Imitative Behavior	Jump Scenes	Music (Scary/Tense)	Music (Inappropriate)	Profanity
Moderate	None	None	Heavy	Extreme

Sex/ Nudity	Smoking	Tense Family Scenes	Topics To Talk About	Violence
Extreme	Minor	Mild	Heavy	Minor

QUICK TAKE:: Comedy: To make ends meet, two financially desperate, lifelong and platonic friends decide to make a porno film, but must contend with the ramifications of having sex for the first time.

PLOT:

Zack (SETH ROGEN) and Miri (ELIZABETH BANKS) are longtime friends and roommates who share an apartment in Detroit, but now don't have enough money to pay the rent or utilities. After a secretly taped video of Miri in her "granny panties" becomes a hit on the Internet, and Zack and Miri attend their high school reunion where they learn that former quarterback star Bobby Long (BRANDON ROUTH) is now a gay porn actor along with his boyfriend, Brandon (JUSTIN LONG), the lifelong friends come up with an unlikely idea.

And that's to make a homemade porn film to earn money. With Zack's coffee shop coworker, Delaney (CRAIG ROBINSON), serving as their producer, and former high school AV cameraman, Deacon (JEFF ANDERSON), as their cinematographer, Zack will work as the director and Miri will be the star, although the plans are for her only to have sex with Zack on camera. For the rest, they hold auditions and hire the likes of Lester (JASON MEWES), Bubbles (TRACI LORDS), Stacey (KATIE MORGAN) and Barry (RICKY MABE) to fill out the cast.

From that point on, Zack and Miri must contend with the aftereffects of them sleeping together for the first time, all as they try to guide their porno film through to completion.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: Fans of director Kevin Smith and/or anyone in the cast might be interested, while the sex angle might lure in the curious.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R: For strong crude sexual content including dialogue, graphic nudity and pervasive language (on appeal from the original NC-17 rating, meaning no edits were made from that version before the rating was dropped down to an R).

CAST AS ROLE MODELS:: Considering what occurs in the film (the making of a porno film, casual sex, strong profanity, etc.) it's doubtful many if any parents would consider any of the characters as being good role models for kids.

CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO

HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE

Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit?
Then read OUR TAKE of this film.

(Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below).

OUR WORD TO PARENTS:

The following is a brief summary of the content found in this R-rated comedy (that was originally rated NC-17 but was changed to an R on appeal, with no edits). Profanity consists of at least 219 "f" words, while many other expletives and colorful phrases are also present. Sexually explicit dialogue, material and humor (covering a wide variety of topics and behaviors) are present throughout the entire film, while sexual encounters (with nudity, thrusting and sounds) are seen, as is non-sexual nudity (including male and female full frontal).

A character punches another during a hockey match, and various behaviors (including the making of a porn film) might be enticing for some kids to imitate. Various characters drink (including in a drinking game), a miscellaneous character is intoxicated, and there are a few brief drug references, while some brief smoking also occurs. Crude/gross-out humor is present, as are comedy-based bad attitudes.

If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content.

ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE: Zack states he's going to get high.
Zack makes a joke about a crack-head with their upcoming high school reunion.
There's a comment about getting "sh*t-faced" at the reunion.
People have beer and drinks at the reunion where Zack orders three beers (2 for him, 1 for Miri). When she meets Bobby, Miri talks about them getting some drinks, with him saying he has one (she takes his beer and drinks it, with him commenting on a cigarette butt being in it). We also see Brandon with a drink. When Miri learns that Bobby is gay, she says she's going to binge drink until she passes out.
Zack and Miri have beer in a bar.
About doing a porno together, Miri tells Zack they could get drunk and accidentally "f*ck." Moments later, in a discussion about whether she's ever seen his "d*ck," she says she has when he got drunk and tried to give himself "head."
People have drinks.
An intoxicated sports fan stumbles into the coffee shop after hours during a porn shoot, but is too wasted to realize what's occurring (and he's then escorted out).
Zack and Bubbles play quarters, while Barry, Deacon, Stacey and Miri have beer.
Brandon has a drink.

BLOOD/GORE: Zack accidentally walks in on Miri sitting on the toilet. She screams, he quickly backs out and tells her to close the door "if you're gonna take a sh*t."
The water is turned off to the apartment while Miri showers. She yells for Zack to help, telling him to use the toilet water to rinse out her hair, but he says "there's poo in there" (not seen). She then tells him from the tank and not the bowl, and so he does (with us viewing her bare back).
There's a comment about "watch sh*t while they sh*t."
Someone mentions homeless people voiding their bowels in the building the crew is going to use to shoot their porno films.
We see Bubbles performing rear entry anal sex on Barry (with a strap-on, that isn't seen, but we do see her behind him as he's bent over, with thrusting movement). There's a comment about it looking like "sh*t going into sh*t."
Stacey states that Lester has a "nice c*ck," adds that she's constipated, and that anal sex is good to loosen one up. That's later followed by Deacon lying on the floor, shooting up at that sexual encounter (we don't see the actual act). When Lester pulls out, a large amount of feces land directly in Deacon's face. About that, he states, "That chick frosted me like I was a f*cking cake."
Zack walks in on Miri on the toilet, but we don't see or hear anything explicit or crude.

DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE: Most of the following is played for laughs.
When his manager tells him he'll have to work on Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving), Delaney (who's black) is indignant and asks about "Nigger Tuesday."
Mad, Delaney's manager tells Delaney and Zack, "F*ck you, f*ck you, and suck c*ck."
A person uses the term "retarded."
Miri changes clothes in the back room at the coffee shop, and some teens videotape her doing so, and then post that on the Internet.
A wife at the reunion is upset that her husband is flirting with another woman. Zack tells her she can flirt with him, and that she can give him a "hand job" in the bathroom. She agrees, and they walk off.
When the warehouse they were using to shoot their film is torn down, the cast and crew decide to use the coffee shop after hours for that (without permission).
Viewers might be offended by the stereotypical portrayal of gay people and/or a black wife (the latter as overbearing, loud, angry, etc.).
Zack and Miri have a falling out after they have sex.
We hear that Delaney's porn production company is called "Nigga Rich Productions" (some viewers might not like that phrase).

FRIGHTENING SCENES: None.

GUNS/WEAPONS: Some teenage boys repeatedly fire paint guns at Zack's crotch while he's dressed in a costume designed for such abuse.

IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR: Phrases: "Oh f*ck," "F*ck you, f*ck you, and suck c*ck," "F*cker," "Ebony and ivory m*therf*ckers," "Gandhi m*therf*cker," "Shut the f*ck up," "F*cking bullsh*t," "Get the f*ck off me," "Don't thank me, just f*ck me," "No f*cking sh*t," "Chatty as f*ck," "Are you f*cking with me?" "F*cking A," "Evil f*cks," "No one wants to see us f*ck," "Mouth-f*cked," "Holy f*ck," "F*ck-back mountain," "I would love to f*ck your ass," "F*ck this noise," "Too f*cking late," "F*ck-up," "F*ck yes," "You sneaky Indian m*therf*cker," "Suck my f*cking c*ckachino," "I'm in the mood to f*ck," "I look like a f*cking Beluga whale," "F*ck-load," "Let us f*ck," "For f*ck's sake," "I f*cking get it," "F*ck it," "That chick frosted me like I was a f*cking cake," "White people are f*cked up," "F*ck you looking at?" "You're a slick cupid m*therf*cker," "F*cking p*ssy" (noun), "Take a sh*t," "He wasn't gonna say sh*t," "Holy sh*t," "Sh*t-faced," "No sh*t," "Piece of sh*t," "Sh*t-load," "Full of sh*t," "It looked like sh*t going into sh*t," "Do you believe this sh*t?" "Sure as sh*t," "You got your sh*t covered," "Bullsh*t," "C*nt magnet," "I eat the p*ssy," "You must be a terrible lay," "You guys suck c*ck," "You're gonna have to start hooking," "Wax your ass," "Edward Penis-Hands," "Dawn of the d*ck," "Lester the molester," "Darth vibrator," "Swallow my c*ckachino," "Her movie sucked c*ck," "Double Dutch rudder," "I think I just jerked off Lester," "Taint," "Balls," "I think I burned my ball hair off," "Nigger Tuesday" (said by Delaney upon hearing the retail term "Black Friday"), "Kiss my ass," "The hell with you," "Retarded," "(Crazy) Bitch," "Stinky Linky," "Suck," "Nimrod," "Voiding their bowels," "Rat's ass" and "Nigga rich productions."
It's possible the film could inspire some kids to make their own, home-made sex recording.
Zack takes Miri's hard warmer pack and puts it down the front of his pants (in a car on a cold day). He then reacts to the intense heat, yanks it out, and says, "I think I burned my ball hair off."
Some kids might be inspired to come up with creative porn titles as spoofs of real films.
A porn actress has tattoos.
We see miscellaneous tattoos.
Lester has tattoos.
There's a montage of dancing where some of the moves might be enticing to copy.
To keep warm in their apartment, Miri and Zack burn things in a metal trashcan, and that's later thrown off the balcony (with fire in it) when their utilities come back on.
Stacey wears a midriff-revealing top.
Some teenage boys repeatedly fire paint guns at Zack's crotch while he's dressed in a costume designed for such abuse.

JUMP SCENES: None.

MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE): None.

MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE): A song uses the "f" word.

PROFANITY: Due to the nearly non-stop explicit nature of the film, the following should be considered a bare minimum: At least 219 "f" words (8 used with "mother," 76 used sexually, as are variations of "bone," "bang," "lay" and "do"), 67 "s" words, 33 slang terms using male genitals ("c*ck," "d*ck" and "ham"), 15 using female ones ("p*ssy," "c*nt" and "private"), 11 for breasts (variations of "t*tty"), 22 asses (4 used with "hole"), 1 damn, 1 hell, 7 uses of "Oh my God," 4 of "God," 3 each of "G-damn" and "Oh Jesus," 2 each of "Jesus" and "Oh God" and 1 use each of "Godforsaken" and "Oh Jesus Christ."

SEX/NUDITY: Zack takes Miri's hard warmer pack and puts it down the front of his pants (in a car on a cold day). He then reacts to the intense heat, yanks it out, and says, "I think I burned my ball hair off."
Mad, Delaney's manager tells Delaney and Zack, "F*ck you, f*ck you, and suck c*ck."
Zack makes a joke about a "blow job" and sex, Delaney asks why Zack sticks with Miri (his roommate) if she doesn't give up any "ass," and Delaney says he'd rather be single and "jerk off." Other such sexual talk (including use of the "f" word) occurs in this conversation.
Miri changes clothes in the back room at the coffee shop, and some teens videotape her doing so. She's seen in her bra and large panties that the guys call "granny panties," and that video later appears on the Internet, with more use of that term from those who see it. During this, Zack catches those guys and moons them (we see his bare butt), while talking to Miri (who's unaware of what's occurred) about his sex toys and her vibrator. A great deal of sexual talk continues (including sexual uses of the "f" word, "p*ssy" and more).
About not having any money, Zack jokingly tells Miri that maybe she could "f*ck" their landlord to pay the rent.
The water is turned off to the apartment while Miri showers. She yells for Zack to help, telling him to use the toilet water to rinse out her hair, but he says "there's poo in there" (not seen). She then tells him from the tank and not the bowl, and so he does (and we see her bare back).
Zack propositions a woman at the reunion to "f*ck me later" and that "I eat the p*ssy." He then leaves her a note that says "I (heart) your p*ssy."
Seeing Bobby at the reunion, Miri adjusts her clothed breasts before going over to talk to him. During some small talk, she tells him, "Don't thank me, just f*ck me." She then admits that she wanted to seduce him as revenge for the way he treated her back in school, and thus he comments that she must be "a terrible lay." She says she isn't, and that "I f*ck a lot."
A wife at the reunion is upset that her husband is flirting with another woman. Zack tells her she can flirt with him, and that she can give him a "hand job" in the bathroom. She agrees, they walk off, and we later see them walk out, her wiping her hand, him finishing with his pants.
As Zack comes to realize that Brandon is a gay porn actor, he states "f*cking movies," with Brandon repeating that (but meaning it in the sexual fashion). Brandon states he's in movies with all-male casts, and when Zack states like "Glengarry Glenn Ross," Brandon says more like "Glenn and Gary suck Ross' c*ck" (or something close to that) and something about dropping "hairy balls" into a mouth. Brandon then says that Zack isn't part of his demographic, asking if he likes "p*ssy." Zack says he does and Brandon repeats his previous statement. That's followed by all sorts of explicit, gay-related sexual talk (Zack: "You guys suck c*ck?"), including by Brandon to his boyfriend Bobby, stating the latter does most of the eating in the sack and of "the sack" (scrotum), and comments about "shove my c*ck in your mouth," etc.
We later see Internet video footage of the above scene with Miri in her large panties.
Zack comments about his sex toy and then that Miri is going to have to start "hooking" to pay the rent. She then mentions that desperate people sometimes turn to having sex with strangers or making porn to earn money, and he then thinks the latter is their perfect solution (he then imagines her looking all sexy and licking a beer bottle and the end that she then puts in her mouth, suggestively). He then states that porn has now gone mainstream, with all sorts of explicit sexual talk (including many sexual uses of the "f" word), including about whether anyone would want to see them doing that (she says no, he says yes, adding he would regarding anyone). She says she wouldn't want to "f*ck" a stranger, with him commenting on her having already done that, including "banging" them with her mouth that he refers to as "mouth-f*cked." Zack then says they could "f*ck," she says that would be like "f*cking" her brother, and he says it would just involve his "d*ck" and her "p*ssy" and they'd only be doing that for money. She then says they could get drunk and accidentally "f*ck." The comment "wax your ass" is made followed by a discussion about whether Miri has seen Zack's "d*ck" (he says she hasn't). She then reminds him of when he got drunk and tried to give himself "head." This ends with Zack asking if she'll have sex with him on camera for money.
There are comments about "t*tties" in regards to Delaney being the film's producer.
Deacon makes a comment about wanting to "f*ck" a cheerleader.
Various people throw out quick titles for their porn film, such as "F*ck-back Mountain," "Edward Penis-Hands" and "Dawn of the D*ck" among many others, along with other sexual talk. They eventually decide on "Star Whores," and later there are comments about "Princess Lay-ya" and "Darth Vibrator" (or something close sounding to those) and other such character names.
We see a sign that reads "T*tty Auditions" and see Delaney talking to a woman who doesn't mind stripping fully nude in front of him (we see full frontal).
Lester lists his name as "Lester the Molester C*ckenstuff" (or something sounding like that), but then picks a benign sounding name as his porn name. He then mentions his talent is his erection and shows the others during his audition (everyone sees it and is amazed, we just see his bare butt in the foreground of the shot).
Strippers show bare breasts and butts while doing their thing, and various ones comment on whether they'd do anal or not for the pending porn film, with one saying no anal, but she'd do oral.
Bubbles shows cleavage, removes her panties (we don't see anything explicit), and then shows off her talent (blowing a bubble by expelling air from her vagina with her legs spread -- not seen, but we see the bubble), with Delaney then happily saying what her name is.
There's additional explicit sexual talk.
About Miri, Lester says, "I would love to f*ck her ass," with her saying she's slept with worse looking guys than him. Other explicit sexual talk continues.
We see that a space creature for the film is actually a large dildo with an eye on the end of it, while a scrotum is seen associated with a costume. We also see scantly clad women who show lots of cleavage, while the shape of an erection is seen in Zack's pants.
Stacey shows cleavage.
The pending sequels to the "Star Whores" porn film have similar sexually related sounding titles.
Segueing from something else, Zack says "speaking of coming" and that he'll give Miri the best orgasm ever. She playfully asks if he knows what he's doing down there, with him then feigning ignorance and asking if the clitoris is in the "ass."
There's more sexual talk, including Zack holding a small dog near the front of his clothed crotch and doing some mock thrusting.
During a porn shoot, we see Stacey's bare breasts and Lester (in just shorts, and then nothing) states, "I'm in the mood to f*ck." We then see them passionately kissing, followed by sex in several positions (including standing missionary on a counter with his bare butt graphically thrusting between her spread legs, as well as rear entry). During this, Zack tells the cameraman to pull out (meaning his shot), but Lester follows that direction (nothing is seen) and Zack tells him to put it back in.
We see Bubbles performing rear entry anal sex on Barry (with a strap-on, that isn't seen, but we do see her behind him as he's bent over, with thrusting movement). There's a comment about it looking like "sh*t going into sh*t," with Delaney saying he's getting turned on my that sex act. That's followed by other sexual talk.
Bubbles talks to Miri about Zack, surprised that they never "did it" before. She then says that she has lube left over from last night (the above anal scene), saying that she knows how hard it is to get wet in front of the camera, adding that Barry had that problem. Miri says she won't have that problem just from the excitement of having people watching her have sex.
We see that Zack has shaved his beard, and he tells Miri he did it for her to avoid giving her "road rash" (meaning while performing oral sex on her in their upcoming porn shoot).
Comparing their porn movie to a famous actress' regular movie, Zack says that their movie is about "sucking c*ck," while the actress' "just sucked c*ck."
We see Miri and Zack doing their porn scene, with her in a bar and short skirt, while he's a delivery guy in shorts with an open shirt. The scene is played (on the part of the overall film) for goofy laughs, with verbal and visual innuendo, such as him saying he has cream for her while dropping a crate of just that on the floor (that splashes up onto her, with her then suggestively sucking on his finger). Sexual talk continues, including him saying, "Let us f*ck" and then "I'm gonna f*ck you with my p*cker," but she thinks the latter word is too graphic. Thus, he repeats the same using "penis" instead. We then see him on top of her on the floor, between her legs, and they passionately kiss. That's followed by an overhead, head and shoulders shot of them having sex, showing movement, with sounds and the focus being on her face as she has an orgasm (as does he). Delaney then complains, "Isn't he supposed to come on her t*tties?" and "I thought they were going to f*ck hard," with another man telling Zack, "Way to f*ck, Zack."
Stacey tells Miri she wants to have practice sex with Zack. Miri isn't crazy about the idea, but says it's okay, and Stacey then goes off with Zack. Miri thinks they then have sex, but we later learn that's not the case.
Stacey states that Lester has a "nice c*ck," adds that she's constipated, and that anal sex is good to loosen one up. That's later followed by Deacon lying on the floor, shooting up at that sexual encounter (we don't see the actual act). When Lester pulls out, a large amount of feces land directly in Deacon's face. About that, he states, "That chick frosted me like I was a f*cking cake."
More sexually explicit talk follows.
About their earlier porn scene, Zack tells Miri, "We tried to f*ck and ended up making love."
There's a comment about a "come shot."
Delaney's wife angrily asks Zack, "You'd f*ck me?" Zack looks at Delaney for the correct answer, gets the anxious nod, and then says yes he would.
There's more explicit sexual talk.
We briefly see raw clips from the previously seen porn shoots (listed above).
Zack goes back to his old place to see Miri, but while she's in the bathroom, Lester walks by, fully nude (we see full frontal), and then bends over to look in the fridge (we see full rear, including his penis and scrotum hanging down in silhouette). Through the door, Zack tells her he doesn't care that she's "f*cking" Lester. Lester then says, "We're not f*cking," adding that he wanted to but she didn't. Zack asks if Lester isn't "doing" her, why is his "d*ck" out, with Lester saying he likes to be naked. Lester then defines and demonstrates the "d*ck rudder" to Zack (taking a person's hand and putting it on your penis and then moving that hand to stimulate the latter). He then mentions the double Dutch rudder, saying that's when such an act goes both ways, and apparently puts Zack's hand on his penis and begins moving it (all below the camera shot, with Zack looking very uncomfortable). Later, and about that, Zack tells Miri, "I think I just jerked off Lester." They passionately kiss and there's talk about Zack being tired of "f*cking" his sex toy, with other related talk about that device. Zack then tells Miri, "Let us f*ck."
In passing, we see a clothed actress in a studio recording booth faking an orgasm sound.
In the background of a shot, we see two presumably nude men passionately kissing in a fountain (seen from the waist up). Brandon talks about lube and Bobby's "asshole" not just being a "come dumpster" (or something along those lines). He then says (about Delaney's porno studio) that they filmed what was in them, "not coming out of us."

SMOKING: Bobby mentions a cigarette butt being a in beer bottle from which Miri has just taken a sip.
Bubbles smokes once, as do some miscellaneous people.

TENSE FAMILY SCENES: A wife at the reunion is upset that her husband is flirting with another woman. Zack tells her she can flirt with him, and that she can give him a "hand job" in the bathroom. She agrees, and they walk off.
Delaney's wife repeatedly badgers and yells at him.

TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT: Pornography, those who make it, and those who watch/buy it.
The question of whether men and women can just be friends.
How having sex changes relationships

VIOLENCE: A car crashes into a chainlink fence (no one is hurt).
Deacon punches another player during a hockey match.
Some teenage boys repeatedly fire paint guns at Zack's crotch while he's dressed in a costume designed for such abuse.

Reviewed October 6, 2008 / Posted October 31, 2008

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