I’ve found Kevin Smith’s movies fairly enjoyable over the last few years, but it’s usually the person himself that far exceeds the humor of his writings. I enjoyed his open forum discussions “An Evening with Kevin Smith” to be far more amusing than the content of his films. Things that define Kevin Smith are what make his works good. “Clerks”, to me, wasn’t nearly as enjoyable until I understood the adventure it took to become the movie. Jay and Silent Bob is more of a meme, though it played an excellent role in “Dogma” which I finde to be one of his funniest works. Chasing Amy is the best movie he’s ever done, and I was hoping for one as high a quality as it in “Zach and Miri”.

“Zach and Miri” is what you’d get if you mixed the bad humor of “Old School”, the disgustingness of “Superbad”, and just a little bit of the charm of Kevin Smith enough to know he was there, but not enough to be convinced it was his throughout the entire project. It even got the from-the-hip reaction of

…it sucks and you might as well watch porn and get more out of it.

My problem with “Zach and Miri” was that it wasn’t the definition of Kevin Smith that I’ve come to love. Movies like Clerks, Jersey Girl, Dogma, and Chasing Amy define Kevin Smith to me. His most recent movie “Zach and Miri” just doesn’t have the same appeal to it. It seems to be more tuned to the rotten, disgusting, trashy humor that is found in “Superbad”, “Old School”, and all accounts of the “Scary Movies” instead of the perverted yet sensible humor in his own “Clerks”, “Clerks II”, and “Mallrats”.

What I did like about “Zach and Miri” in bulletted form:

• Smith’s somewhat-perverted sense of humor showed face in a few of the scenes (Untrustworthy Boss, the After-Closing Customer, Paintball Hockey)
• The little geeky references that make it into all of Smith’s scripts.
• The actors worked well together, and all of the main characters were cast into roles correctly.
• Even minor roles were given some worthy thought. Specifically, Craig Robinson (Darryl, from “The Office”) and Justin Long.

Smith has good judgment when it comes to casting actors into their characters (or maybe he just has a rock-star casting director). The initial pick to use Star Wars as a plot for the porno was somewhat amusing. The paintball booth at a hockey game scene near the end of the movie was the biggest part that seemed all of Smith’s vision, with the Laxative-related reference coming in close second. I’ll have a question for him regarding both if I ever make it to one of his “Evening with…” sessions.

What I didn’t like about “Zach and Miri” in bulletted form:

• Rotten trashy humor like is found in less experienced and less respected writers/directors.
• Focus more on the raunch and less on the story until it was too late.
• Very amateur-like teen girl storyline went full force for the last 20 minutes.
• The need for Jason Mewes to have a fairly sizable role in this film.
• T&A films are not Kevin Smith.

If Kevin Smith wanted to take notes on a good T&A/porn related film he should have taken a look at “Girl Next Door” which though a very sexual story and filled with items from the adult film industry, was very tastefully produced and included elements for all kinds of mainstream movie-watchers.

I’m keeping a close watch on “Red State” and hoping it will be a good example (though a new genre) of Kevin Smith’s talent. If you’ve seen “Zach and Miri”, what do you think? How does it compare with Smith’s other films?