The Review at a Glance: (max score: 5 )
Film:
Extras:
Audio/Video total rating:
( Max score: 100 )
80
Studio and Year: The Weinstein Company - 2008
MPAA Rating: R
Feature running time: 101 Minutes
Genre: Comedy
Disc Format: BD-50
Encoding: AVC (MPEG04)
Video Aspect: 1.85:1
Resolution: 1080p/24
Audio Format(s): English Dolby TrueHD 5.1, English/French Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
Starring: Seth Rogan, Elizabeth Banks, Craig Robinson, Jason Mewes, Traci Lords, Jeff Anderson, Katie Morgan
Written & Directed by: Kevin Smith
Music by: James L. Venable
Region Code: A
Blu-ray Disc release Date: February 3, 2009
"Desperate times call for desperate measures but.."
Film Synopsis:
Get ready for the wild comedy that goes where no movie has dared go before! Seth Rogen (Pineapple Express) and Elizabeth Banks (Role Models) star as two cash-strapped roommates who try to get out of debt by making an adult film. Once the cameras start rolling, things quickly get complicated...
My Take:
Seth Rogan has to be one busy guy. It seems like every time I turn around he is in a comedy that I am reviewing. He and this brand of humor seem to be the flavor of the month. I am not sure if that is good or bad but it is apparent none the less. Writer/Director Kevin Smith returns in this offbeat comedy about two roommates/friends who fall on hard times and decide to make a pornographic movie to raise money. The film's opening made me chuckle. It involves a paperboy and a Chevy Lumina and really had nothing to do with anything but it struck me as funny. After that we are introduced to Miri and Zack, two friends who have known each other since the first grade. Zack works at a local coffee shop and Miri works at a clothing store in the mall. They live in a crappy two bedroom apartment and have a long list of overdue bills. Miri is gearing up for their 10 year high school reunion and has coerced Zack into going with her. Earlier that evening they are at the coffee shop and Miri is trying on various outfits for the reunion. Two teens capture cell phone video of her in her granny panties and post it on YouTube. It quickly receives several hundred thousand hits and she is recognized as a result while at the reunion. That night their water gets turned off followed the next day by the electricity and heat. They begin trying to come up with ideas for making money and Zack gets the idea to make a porno which they will both star in. Zack and Miri both agree that the sex will be meaningless although Zack expresses a concern that it might affect their friendship. He talks his friend and co-worker Delany (Robinson) into using the money he was saving to buy a flat panel TV to help them finance the film. In exchange they allow him to serve as the film's producer which means he gets to audition the females they will use in it. They bring on Deacon (Anderson) to serve as camerman, along with Lester and Barry (Mewes and Mabe), and Stacey and Bubbles (Morgan and Lords) as the remainder of the cast. The type of film that Zack starts writing and directing is a Star Wars parody, but due to an unforeseen setback that gets tossed in favor of shooting at night in the coffee shop using a theme built around it. Things go along pretty smoothly until Zack and Miri's onscreen sexual encounter. For them this was more than meaningless sex and it threatens the project and their relationship in a way they didn't expect.
This is a silly film that clearly falls into the class of shock comedy that we have seen of late. Kevin Smith doesn't stray very far from his comfort zone and brought in actors that have appeared in several of his previous movies. I have to admit that these characters were fun and rarely felt disingenuous. The dialogue was pervasive and at times the sexual content was pretty explicit (but far from being pornography). I don't think this was done for the sole purpose of being over the top but was more in keeping it real which I thought worked. There are some moments that were pretty funny. The exchange between Brandon Routh and Justin Long at the reunion, the reason that they call Bubbles Bubbles, and the discussion between Delaney and Mr. Surya about working on Black Friday are a few examples. I liked the brief but well implemented romantic aspects of the story. I don't consider Rogan to be much of an actor but I thought he did okay with it. When all was said and done I found Zack and Miri make a porno to be entertaining. This isn't a film for everyone but those who enjoy this style of comedy will surely get a kick out of it.
Parental Guide:
The rating is for strong crude sexual content including dialogue, graphic nudity and pervasive language.
AUDIO/VIDEO - By The Numbers:
REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65
**My audio/video ratings are based upon a comparative made against other high definition media/blu-ray disc.**
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
Audio: 76
Video: 84
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
Zack and Miri make a porno comes to Blu-ray Disc from The Weinstein Company featuring 1080p AVC encoded video that has an average bitrate of 27 mbps and lossless Dolby TrueHD 5.1 channel sound that has an average bitrate of 2.9 mbps.
This is a satisfying high definition video presentation that delivers quality which is consistent with a newer release film on Blu-ray Disc. Colors appear natural with pleasing depth and vivid hues. Complexions are realistically depicted with defining texture, and good tonal separation. Blacks are respectable but don't offer the depth and delineation that make them stand out. Detail in low light and dark backgrounds is estimable. Images offer good dimensional depth, stable sharpness, and definitive clarity but don't expect opulent high level detail and overly vibrant colors. This appears to look exactly as intended which when all is said and done is quite good. The audio presentation is solid and clearly renders the elements present in the soundtrack with aplomb. Dialogue is clearly articulated through the center channel and the film's music holds sway over the front soundstage with authority. Aural perspective is one dimensional and leans toward the front channels however spatial venue replicating effects and diffuse ambience is fed to the rear channels which provide a limited but effective sense of envelopment.
Bonus Features:
Final Thoughts:
Zack and Miri make a porno is a silly but fun comedy from the mind of Kevin Smith. It doesn't offer the sharp wit and less innocuous visuals of some of his best work but for those who enjoy this style of humor there are some funny moments. The Weinstein Company has done a fine job with its presentation on Blu-ray Disc as it looks great and features suitable Dolby TrueHD lossless sound quality. Recommended for fans.
Ralph Potts
AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews
Reference Review System:
JVC DLA-RS20 1080p High Definition Front Projector
Carada Precision Brilliant White 96" Screen
Oppo 970HD universal disc DVD Player (480i HDMI)
Toshiba HD-XA2 HD DVD Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Panasonic DMP-BD55K Blu-ray disc Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Sony Playstation 3 Blu-ray disc Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Marantz DV7001 Universal Disc Player
Denon AVR 5308CI THX Ultra 2 Preamp/Video Processor
B&K Reference 200.7 Series 2 seven Channel amplifier
Philips TSU9400 Pro Series Touch Panel Remote Control
Canton "Ergo" Series speakers
Axiom Audio QS8 Quadpolar speakers
SV Sound PB-13 Ultra (Rosenut finish)
APC AV S15BLK Power Conditioner/Surge Protector
Furman SPR-20i Stable Power Regulator
Wireworld Ultraviolet & BetterCables Silver Serpent Reference HDMI Cabling
Best Deal Cables - Speaker Cabling
Cool Components - CP-CP102 cooling package
The Review at a Glance: (max score: 5 )
Film:
Extras:
Audio/Video total rating:
( Max score: 100 )
80
Studio and Year: The Weinstein Company - 2008
MPAA Rating: R
Feature running time: 101 Minutes
Genre: Comedy
Disc Format: BD-50
Encoding: AVC (MPEG04)
Video Aspect: 1.85:1
Resolution: 1080p/24
Audio Format(s): English Dolby TrueHD 5.1, English/French Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
Starring: Seth Rogan, Elizabeth Banks, Craig Robinson, Jason Mewes, Traci Lords, Jeff Anderson, Katie Morgan
Written & Directed by: Kevin Smith
Music by: James L. Venable
Region Code: A
Blu-ray Disc release Date: February 3, 2009
"Desperate times call for desperate measures but.."
Film Synopsis:
Get ready for the wild comedy that goes where no movie has dared go before! Seth Rogen (Pineapple Express) and Elizabeth Banks (Role Models) star as two cash-strapped roommates who try to get out of debt by making an adult film. Once the cameras start rolling, things quickly get complicated...
My Take:
Seth Rogan has to be one busy guy. It seems like every time I turn around he is in a comedy that I am reviewing. He and this brand of humor seem to be the flavor of the month. I am not sure if that is good or bad but it is apparent none the less. Writer/Director Kevin Smith returns in this offbeat comedy about two roommates/friends who fall on hard times and decide to make a pornographic movie to raise money. The film's opening made me chuckle. It involves a paperboy and a Chevy Lumina and really had nothing to do with anything but it struck me as funny. After that we are introduced to Miri and Zack, two friends who have known each other since the first grade. Zack works at a local coffee shop and Miri works at a clothing store in the mall. They live in a crappy two bedroom apartment and have a long list of overdue bills. Miri is gearing up for their 10 year high school reunion and has coerced Zack into going with her. Earlier that evening they are at the coffee shop and Miri is trying on various outfits for the reunion. Two teens capture cell phone video of her in her granny panties and post it on YouTube. It quickly receives several hundred thousand hits and she is recognized as a result while at the reunion. That night their water gets turned off followed the next day by the electricity and heat. They begin trying to come up with ideas for making money and Zack gets the idea to make a porno which they will both star in. Zack and Miri both agree that the sex will be meaningless although Zack expresses a concern that it might affect their friendship. He talks his friend and co-worker Delany (Robinson) into using the money he was saving to buy a flat panel TV to help them finance the film. In exchange they allow him to serve as the film's producer which means he gets to audition the females they will use in it. They bring on Deacon (Anderson) to serve as camerman, along with Lester and Barry (Mewes and Mabe), and Stacey and Bubbles (Morgan and Lords) as the remainder of the cast. The type of film that Zack starts writing and directing is a Star Wars parody, but due to an unforeseen setback that gets tossed in favor of shooting at night in the coffee shop using a theme built around it. Things go along pretty smoothly until Zack and Miri's onscreen sexual encounter. For them this was more than meaningless sex and it threatens the project and their relationship in a way they didn't expect.
This is a silly film that clearly falls into the class of shock comedy that we have seen of late. Kevin Smith doesn't stray very far from his comfort zone and brought in actors that have appeared in several of his previous movies. I have to admit that these characters were fun and rarely felt disingenuous. The dialogue was pervasive and at times the sexual content was pretty explicit (but far from being pornography). I don't think this was done for the sole purpose of being over the top but was more in keeping it real which I thought worked. There are some moments that were pretty funny. The exchange between Brandon Routh and Justin Long at the reunion, the reason that they call Bubbles Bubbles, and the discussion between Delaney and Mr. Surya about working on Black Friday are a few examples. I liked the brief but well implemented romantic aspects of the story. I don't consider Rogan to be much of an actor but I thought he did okay with it. When all was said and done I found Zack and Miri make a porno to be entertaining. This isn't a film for everyone but those who enjoy this style of comedy will surely get a kick out of it.
Parental Guide:
The rating is for strong crude sexual content including dialogue, graphic nudity and pervasive language.
AUDIO/VIDEO - By The Numbers:
REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65
**My audio/video ratings are based upon a comparative made against other high definition media/blu-ray disc.**
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
Audio: 76
- Dynamics:
- Low frequency extension:
- Surround Sound presentation:
- Clarity/Detail:
- Dialogue Reproduction:
Video: 84
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
- Resolution/Clarity:
- Black level/Shadow detail:
- Color reproduction:
- Fleshtones:
- Compression:
Zack and Miri make a porno comes to Blu-ray Disc from The Weinstein Company featuring 1080p AVC encoded video that has an average bitrate of 27 mbps and lossless Dolby TrueHD 5.1 channel sound that has an average bitrate of 2.9 mbps.
This is a satisfying high definition video presentation that delivers quality which is consistent with a newer release film on Blu-ray Disc. Colors appear natural with pleasing depth and vivid hues. Complexions are realistically depicted with defining texture, and good tonal separation. Blacks are respectable but don't offer the depth and delineation that make them stand out. Detail in low light and dark backgrounds is estimable. Images offer good dimensional depth, stable sharpness, and definitive clarity but don't expect opulent high level detail and overly vibrant colors. This appears to look exactly as intended which when all is said and done is quite good. The audio presentation is solid and clearly renders the elements present in the soundtrack with aplomb. Dialogue is clearly articulated through the center channel and the film's music holds sway over the front soundstage with authority. Aural perspective is one dimensional and leans toward the front channels however spatial venue replicating effects and diffuse ambience is fed to the rear channels which provide a limited but effective sense of envelopment.
Bonus Features:
- Popcorn porn: The making of Zack and Miri - 74 minute documentary
- (HD) Blu-ray Exclusive : 43 (yeah, you read that right) deleted/extended scenes
- Money shots: A series of 22 webisodes
- San Diego International Comic-con 2008 - featuring Kevin Smith and members of the cast
- Gang bang: Outtakes, Ad-libs and bloopers - 13 minutes
- Seth vs. Justin: Battle for improvisional supremacy - Part 1
- BD-Live access - Not enabled as of this writing ( 2/4/09)
Final Thoughts:
Zack and Miri make a porno is a silly but fun comedy from the mind of Kevin Smith. It doesn't offer the sharp wit and less innocuous visuals of some of his best work but for those who enjoy this style of humor there are some funny moments. The Weinstein Company has done a fine job with its presentation on Blu-ray Disc as it looks great and features suitable Dolby TrueHD lossless sound quality. Recommended for fans.
Ralph Potts
AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews
Reference Review System:
JVC DLA-RS20 1080p High Definition Front Projector
Carada Precision Brilliant White 96" Screen
Oppo 970HD universal disc DVD Player (480i HDMI)
Toshiba HD-XA2 HD DVD Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Panasonic DMP-BD55K Blu-ray disc Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Sony Playstation 3 Blu-ray disc Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Marantz DV7001 Universal Disc Player
Denon AVR 5308CI THX Ultra 2 Preamp/Video Processor
B&K Reference 200.7 Series 2 seven Channel amplifier
Philips TSU9400 Pro Series Touch Panel Remote Control
Canton "Ergo" Series speakers
Axiom Audio QS8 Quadpolar speakers
SV Sound PB-13 Ultra (Rosenut finish)
APC AV S15BLK Power Conditioner/Surge Protector
Furman SPR-20i Stable Power Regulator
Wireworld Ultraviolet & BetterCables Silver Serpent Reference HDMI Cabling
Best Deal Cables - Speaker Cabling
Cool Components - CP-CP102 cooling package