Sex Sells

Kevin Smith, the director of Clerks, Chasing Amy, and Mallrats, has delivered in the obviously titled Zack and Miri Make a Porno the sweetest, most real, hilarious romantic comedy of the year.

That’s right – Kevin Smith…a rom-com.

Controversy over the title aside, you really don’t want to miss this one.

Seth Rogen and the glorious Elizabeth Banks (W.) star as the titular characters, two cash-strapped slackers who, facing eviction, decide to make a porno to make ends meet. (No pun intended.)

The catch is Zack and Miri are friends – he’s a lovable lug; she’s a real girl – and have been nothing but platonic friends for 10 years, so this arrangement complicates things.

Sex does that.

But, you know, sometimes you gotta buck up, have a cookie, and f--- your BFF if you want to keep warm.

Literally: Zack and Miri have bills to pay, and they aren’t going to pay themselves.

And now I’ll say it, even though I shouldn’t have to: Hilarity ensues. The two assemble a crew of actors, brainstorm ideas (hear out all their porn titles and laugh out loud), and finally get to talking about the rules of engagement.

And as they delve deeper into uncharted territory, they experience changes that will affect their friendship forever.

For all its profanity, for all its raunch, Zack and Miri Make a Porno has a really big heart, though.

Written and directed by Smith, you’d think the movie would use the laughs it gets to make up for a lack of depth. You’d think wrong. This one’s downright romantic, and I’m definitely looking forward to seeing it again.

My Rating ***1/2

Photo: MLive.com.