Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008)

Tags

Comedy, Elizabeth Banks, Movie, Romance, Seth Rogen, Zack and Miri Make a Porno

Ummm...

R

Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks

Miri: You could be a waiter.
Zack: No one wants me around their food!  Would you eat food that I gave you??
Miri: I would not eat food that you gave me, that is true.

I think the title about says it all.  As a way to make money and pay their bills, roommates (and JUST friends) Zack and Miri venture into the adult film business.

To quote the Beatles, “IIIIIIIIII shoulda known better…”

I had watched the reviews for this movie on the At The Movies website, and they both said it was not as gross or vulgar as one would expect from a Kevin Smith movie involving this subject matter.  I’m not sure what they were expecting, but it was plenty gross and vulgar in my opinion.

Though, honestly I’m not one to get easily offended by such things.  My real problem with the movie is that it’s just not that funny.  It’s as though Smith went to urbandictionary.com and just started writing down as many random sex terms as he could find.  But, stringing those together, along with as many obscenities as you can, is no substitute for a witty, interesting script.  There needs to be actual jokes.  More stuff like what I quoted above.  There is one good moment where they discuss the show Lost while filming a scene, but the few clever moments are few and far between.

Normally I like Seth Rogen, but in this movie it seemed like 90% of his dialogue was screamed, and most of it consisted of the strung together obsceneties and terms I mentioned before.  That stuff gets boring real quick.

Elizabeth Banks (and her character) was the only thing resembling a bright spot in the movie, but that’s not enough to save it.

10 – 5 for not having many real jokes or wit – 1 for recycled characters + .2 for Banks = 4.2

Role Models (2008)

Tags

Comedy, Elizabeth Banks, Movie, Paul Rudd, Role Models, Seann William Scott

"We're selling them nuclear horse piss for six bucks a can..."

R

Paul Rudd, Seann William Scott

Wheeler: “Question, maybe a stupid one, but I’m just spit-balling here.  The get out of jail free card…is that based on something that exists, or…?”
Beth: “…That wasn’t a stupid question.”
Wheeler: “It’s real…”
Danny: “It’s real in the game of monopoly.”
Wheeler: “Yeah, it’s based on true events.”
Danny: “Ho-, well, whaddya mean?”
Wheeler: “…Chance.”

After having a bad day, Danny (Paul Rudd) kinda loses it, breaks a few laws, and involves Wheeler (Seann William Scott) in it too.  They either have to go to jail or do community service.  Their service entails being big brothers to kids who need a good father figure in their lives.  Naturally this results in comedy and mayhem.

Rudd and Scott may not have a lot of range in their comedic repertoire, but what they do, they do well.  They get to play to their strengths in this movie, and I think that’s why it works.  At least, for me it does.  The two kids are good too, though I would’ve liked to see more backstory on Ronnie, the kid assigned to Wheeler.  There’s a lot more emphasis on Augie, Rudd’s kid, which is ok, but it seemed like it could’ve been more balanced.  Maybe there’s a longer version out there with more about Ronnie’s past…

As most movies like this are, it’s a very predictable, by the numbers story, but it’s done well enough that I was involved throughout.  It had me actually kinda cheering on our heroes in the final epic battle scene.  Yes, there is in fact an epic battle in the finale.

I liked how many characters got to have funny lines/moments.  It wasn’t just a case where they had their two stars supply all the humor.  That’s always a sign of good writing to me.  Elizabeth Banks has some good moments.  Jane Lynch is a little bizarre, but funny, as the head of the Sturdy Wings program.  Then there’s a whole bunch of funny people to be seen in Augie’s live-action role playing group.

So yeah, funny movie, for the most part, with only a few lulls here and there.

10 – 2 for not developing Ronnie’s backstory more – .5 for a few dull spots + .5 for using an ELO song – .2 for going for easy laughs by having a little kid use a bunch of obscenties = 7.8