Watch Before Viewing Zack and Miri Make A Porno

Kevin Smith teams with Seth Rogan for a comedy porno. Before it ‘comes’ to cinemas this weekend, we recommend the following films…

CHASING AMY (1997)

 

 



 

 

For his third film Kevin Smith manages to seamlessly balance those complex adult sexual issues with jokes about bodily functions (as only Smith can do). The two Garden State guys this time around are Holden (Ben Affleck) and Banky (Jason Lee). At a comic book convention, the co-creators of “Bluntman and Chronic” meet Alyssa Jones (Joey Lauren Adams), a New Jersey native who draws a comic entitled “Idiosyncratic Routine.” Holden thinks they click- but proceeds to discover that Alyssa is a lesbian–then manages to convince her to take a chance on him anyway. The real conflict comes when Holden gets hung up on Alyssa’s checkered sexual past. The script came out of Smith’s real-life relationship with Adams, and represents a flowering of themes similar to those in ‘Zack and Miri’ – namely friendship and sexual jealousy. And yes, Smith fans can rest assured; like “Chasing Amy”, “Zack and Miri” is choc full of Star Wars references!

 

 


BOOGIE NIGHTS (1997)

 

 



 

 

P.T Anderson and Mark Wahlberg Make A Porno! In one of Anderson finest films (and certainly Wahlberg’s best), we explore the rise and fall of the porn industry – all reflected in the character Johnny Wadd-esque character (Wahlberg), a young nobody who rises through the ranks to become one of the country’s hottest porn stars. With a fantastic ensemble cast, “Boogie Nights” runs the complete gamut of emotions, with moments of genuine heartfelt joy and tragedy, as well as P.T.A’s understanding for quirky characterisation. Among the latter are the unstoppable duo of Chest Rockwell and Brock Landers, the personae that porn stars Dirk Diggler and Reed Rothchild adopt for themselves in a wildly successful series of action porn films.




SHORTBUS (2006)

 

 

 

 

For anyone who thinks “Zack and Miri Make A Porn” is too porn much for cinemas (or perhaps too little), check out Shortbus for the comparison. John Cameron Mitchell follows up the cult classic “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” with the story of Sofia (Sook-Yin Lee) – a sex therapist who has never had an orgasm. When she snaps during a therapy session with a very understanding couple, her clients suggest that she visit “Shortbus,” an underground performance space, salon and sex club. When Sofia walks through the door, she encounters the best orgy scene to appear on film after 1979. Piled on the floor, dangling from swings and squirming against the walls are dozens of bodies, of all genders and descriptions, screwing and licking in every possible combination. Yes, the sex may be explicit, but Mitchell integrates it into the characters’ lives and serves the whole story up with a generous dose of sweetness and wit.




KNOCKED UP (2007)

 

 

 

 


When a one-night stand that should have stayed that way has unexpected consequences, the reluctant odd couple attempts to transform their tentative relationship into a lasting love in this conception comedy. Twenty-four-year-old entertainment journalist Allison Scott (Katherine Heigl) is on the fast track to the big time, but an alcohol-fueled hookup with responsibility-shirking slacker Ben Stone (Seth Rogen) finds her professional priorities taking a back seat to having a baby. Now, as overgrown kid Ben attempts to assume the responsibilities of fatherhood, he makes the brave decision to stand by Alison. Like “Zack and Miri”, “Knocked Up” is a hilarious, poignant and refreshing look at the rigors of courtship, with a sometimes raunchy, yet savvy script that is ably acted and directed.

 

 


“Zack and Miri Make A Porno” hits Irish cinemas Friday, November 14th.