Zack and Miri Make the World’s First R-Rated Porno
Posted by Neil Miller (neil@filmschoolrejects.com) on August 5, 2008
The official word is coming in today that director Kevin Smith has won an appeal with the MPAA to lower the rating of his upcoming film Zack and Miri Make a Porno from NC-17 to R. Not that it makes any difference to me, as I am of age to see both types of films, but as you may very well know, it is difficult to distribute an NC-17 flick. Then again Zack and Miri is a Weinstein Company property, and they seem to have trouble distributing just about any type of film.
Ultimately this is a win for youngens whose parents are okay with them seeing depraved, potentially raunchy and unexpectedly intelligent things on the big screen. It is also a huge victory for Kevin Smith, whose work deserves to be seen by as many people (young or old) as possible.
The MPAA gave no official reason for granting the R rating, but we can only assume that they finally realized that the film was not, in fact, a porno as the title states. It is a somewhat romantic comedy about two roommates, played by Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks, who decide to make a homemade porn film in order to dig themselves out of debt. What isn’t R-rated about that?
Early reports that I’ve heard say that the film is ridiculously funny and that Seth Rogen once again delivers the goods. Alright, that sounded a little too sexual. I am done with this article. Leave your thoughts, hopes, dreams and fantasies in the comment area below.
Read more articles by Neil Miller
