Lifelong platonic friends Zack (Seth Rogen) and Miri (Elizabeth Banks) look to solve their respective cash-flow problems by making an adult film together. As the cameras roll, however, the duo begin to sense that they may have more feelings for each other than they previously thought.
This is a welcome addition to the Kevin Smith filmography. "Clerks II" was a sad follow-up for "Clerks", and while "Jersey Girl" was enjoyable, it was still not one of his better movies and people seem to agree with that assessment. We will probably never see Smith in his prime again -- "Clerks", "Mallrats" and "Chasing Amy" quality -- but this was a nice attempt.
The over-arching humor of this film revolves around sex and sexual situations (duh) and is heavily reliant on crude humor and vulgarity. Yet, unlike sophomoric comedies like "American Pie", there is an underlying intelligence here that can be appreciated by those with more refined tastes. Where Smith may have lost his wit, he has not lost his intelligence.
A stand-out moment is a scene featuring Justin Long. Long, who typically comes off as a straight nerd (see "Dodgeball" or "Live Free or Die Hard" or almost anything else) does a fine job as a gay porn star here, giving the audience some of their deepest laughs throughout the picture. His voice is funny, and his "straight" delivery of lines (no pun intended) really adds some depth. The character is Stephen Wright meets George Carlin.
Other reviewers have said they are getting sick of Seth Rogen, and let me say I tend to agree. I do not mind Rogen, and think he is a funny guy (though not the funniest), but I do have to wonder why every comedy today features him or Will Ferrell. The variety is lacking and for those of us who watch movies on a semi-regular basis, we might be feeling overwhelmed. I have heard the suggestion that Jason Bateman might have filmed the role of Zack, and that seems like a worthwhile suggestion...
I would recommend this film to Smith fans. If you like it, you might see where I am coming from on wanting to give Smith a second chance. If you do not like it, you may find his career is dead. At the very least, let us hope we do not see "An Evening with Kevin Smith 3", since the second was no more than a pale imitation of the first and I cannot see the third being any better. (Review update 2014: a third part happened, which I have not seen.)
This is a welcome addition to the Kevin Smith filmography. "Clerks II" was a sad follow-up for "Clerks", and while "Jersey Girl" was enjoyable, it was still not one of his better movies and people seem to agree with that assessment. We will probably never see Smith in his prime again -- "Clerks", "Mallrats" and "Chasing Amy" quality -- but this was a nice attempt.
The over-arching humor of this film revolves around sex and sexual situations (duh) and is heavily reliant on crude humor and vulgarity. Yet, unlike sophomoric comedies like "American Pie", there is an underlying intelligence here that can be appreciated by those with more refined tastes. Where Smith may have lost his wit, he has not lost his intelligence.
A stand-out moment is a scene featuring Justin Long. Long, who typically comes off as a straight nerd (see "Dodgeball" or "Live Free or Die Hard" or almost anything else) does a fine job as a gay porn star here, giving the audience some of their deepest laughs throughout the picture. His voice is funny, and his "straight" delivery of lines (no pun intended) really adds some depth. The character is Stephen Wright meets George Carlin.
Other reviewers have said they are getting sick of Seth Rogen, and let me say I tend to agree. I do not mind Rogen, and think he is a funny guy (though not the funniest), but I do have to wonder why every comedy today features him or Will Ferrell. The variety is lacking and for those of us who watch movies on a semi-regular basis, we might be feeling overwhelmed. I have heard the suggestion that Jason Bateman might have filmed the role of Zack, and that seems like a worthwhile suggestion...
I would recommend this film to Smith fans. If you like it, you might see where I am coming from on wanting to give Smith a second chance. If you do not like it, you may find his career is dead. At the very least, let us hope we do not see "An Evening with Kevin Smith 3", since the second was no more than a pale imitation of the first and I cannot see the third being any better. (Review update 2014: a third part happened, which I have not seen.)