With a title like “Zac and Miri Make a Porno,” it’s hard for a serious film critic to give a positive review to the movie without sounding like some sort of a pervert. So while I hope that my mother doesn’t read this particular review, I’ve got to admit that Kevin Smith’s latest raunchy comedy is a winner. Despite the provocative title, the film is actually quite sweet, and more importantly; it’s his funniest work in years. Yes, it’s still raunchy and filled with profanity, but it’s not much cruder than what Judd Apatow has been doing lately.

Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks star as Zac and Miri, two lifelong friends who live together, but can’t pay their bills. A humiliating high school reunion and a fortuitous moment of internet fame combine to give our slacker heroes a chance to make some quick cash. As the title suggests, Zac and Miri will make a porno.

The film becomes a comedy of errors and Zac and Miri and their friends try to put together a filmmaking team for their porn-parody of “Star Wars.” None of them know anything about filmmaking, so the production is filled with comic misadventures and surprises. The biggest surprise is revealed when the two stars come to realize that they have feelings for each other.

As I said, the revelation proves to be quite sweet.

Don’t worry too much about the sexual content, as “Zac and Miri” turns out to be a rather conventional romantic comedy that’s far more pornographic in theory than in the actual movie. On the other hand, the film is very profane, filled with a non-stop barrage of swear words that would give sailors pause.

Caught in the middle of all of this is a game cast of mostly good-natured-but-naughty guys and Elizabeth Banks, who is charming as she proves that she can be just as vulgar as any of her male co-stars. Rogen continues to play loveable teddy bear types, and the two stars have some genuine chemistry together. It’s nice to see a romantic comedy where the main characters fall in love because they seem right for each other rather than just being forced into romance because of a manipulative screenplay.

As sweet as the film turns out to be, I’ve got to wonder who will go to see this film aside from twenty-something guys. The title will turn off date night couples, while discriminating adults (and film critics?) will be leery as well. I can understand your hesitation, so take my advice and put this on your DVD rent list. That way you can see a charming comedy in the privacy of your own home. Nobody will ever have to know how much you’ll enjoy this “porno.”

Movie reviews by Sean, “The Movie Guy,” are published bi-weekly in The Port Arthur News and weekly on KFDM-TV. Sean welcomes your comments via email at smcbride@kavutv.com.