ZACK AND MIRI MAKE A PORNO

RYAN: As you know, I love a good comedy. Is this new one from Kevin Smith, “Zack and Miri Make a Porno,” one to love?

CAROLINE: Sadly, no. I may be in the minority on this one, but I really didn’t love it. And I was totally expecting to. My high hopes were dashed.

RYAN: That’s such a letdown because the cast is so great. We love Seth Rogen and especially Elizabeth Banks.

CAROLINE: The cast is really good except for Jason Mewes who can’t act. I know Kevin Smith is trying to hook his buddy up with acting gigs, but he needs to stop.

RYAN: What about the story?

CAROLINE: It starts out a little bit reminiscent of “Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion” because Seth and Elizabeth are prepping for their 10-year. They’re two best friends who live together but haven’t really done much with their lives – he works at a coffee shop – and they’re totally broke. There’s no mention of any sexual tension at all. They have more of a brother/sister relationship. Then we’re supposed to buy that they fall for each other whilst making the porn, and it’s totally preposterous.

RYAN: All because they’re forced to finally have sex because of the porn?

CAROLINE: Precisely. And if you think for one minute that I’m gonna buy Elizabeth Banks falling for someone who looks like Seth Rogen, think again. It’s totally not believable. It reminded me of how Kate Winslet is supposed to be crazy for Jack Black in “The Holiday.”

RYAN: Yeah, that was totally unrealistic. But wait, are you saying this is supposed to be a romantic comedy? Because based on the trailer I thought it was just a regular comedy about two friends who are desperate for money and decide to make a porn.

CAROLINE: It is, but there’s this romantical element that’s totally far-fetched. I was expecting a flat-out comedy, which I would have much preferred. Except sadly, the movie’s not even that funny.

RYAN: Did it make you larf?

CAROLINE: A few times, but not nearly enough.

RYAN: So sad. Maybe it’s because Judd Apatow wasn’t involved. He didn’t proofread the script.

CAROLINE: Kevin Smith has certainly made many a funny movie; but with a cast like this, I expected so much more. Craig Robinson from “The Office” is a riot, and he has some funny lines, but I wanted more from him. There were several scenes that could have been so much funnier.

RYAN: How’s Traci Lords?

CAROLINE: She doesn’t have too many speaking scenes, but she’s good. She does a funny trick with her vagina.

RYAN: I loved that in the trailer.

CAROLINE: I think my main issue – and sorry to sound like such a prude because I can swear with the best of ’em – was how profane the movie is. It seems like every other word is f***.

RYAN: Even more than “Superbad”?

CAROLINE: Probably not, but the cursing in “Superbad” was so over-the-top and clearly done for shock value that it was hilarious. With this one, it just seems like overkill. And there are some seriously graphic sex scenes. It’s like a Skinemax movie or something. I’m amazed it was able to get an R rating. Kevin Smith already had to change it a lot because it was originally NC-17, but it’s still really raunchy. There’s both male and female full frontal, by the by.

RYAN: Seth Rogen?!

CAROLINE: No.

RYAN: Whew, quel relief. Then it would have been a horror movie. Though I must say he’s looking much better these days. Tell me about Elizabeth Banks – did she at least have some good moments?

CAROLINE: She looks great and she had a different cute, chunky, knitted scarf in every scene. I wanted all of them. She’s fine, but I think she’s too good for the material she was given. The movie isn’t well written enough. Maybe the target audience is 15-year-old boys, who will be happy because there are several boob shots. But as someone who has adored many a Judd Apatow film and was expecting this one to be on that level, I’m sad to say it’s not.

RYAN: Such a bummer. Bottom line?

CAROLINE: I’m not gonna say, “Don’t see it,” because fans of these actors and Kevin Smith will anyway. But I’m just disappointed because I think the movie is too high on the raunch factor and not high enough on the comedy.