For students of Kevin Smith’s eight-film career, the most intriguing thing about a movie which features the word “porno” in its title is how uncharacteristically tame his newest film positions itself with regards to pornographic material. Certainly, we see some manners of bodily fluids and by-products in the proceedings, and there are instances of full frontal nudity, but ultimately Smith has made a film that, at its core, is a touching love story.

And, with its appealing leads, ripped straight from the pages of a Judd Apatow script, Smith’s newest film might even be – unbelievably so – his most mainstream, with apologies to the underrated JERSEY GIRL. If not for that – ooo, awful – word in its title, Smith’s charming, hilarious, and warm-hearted movie might reach out to date night audiences with its tale about destined lovers who come together under the most unusual circumstances.

One wonders why Smith, whose career has been based on unabashed approaches to such subjects as slackers, lesbians, religion, etc., decided to make a movie about disparate roommates being forced (albeit somewhat voluntarily) to make a pornographic film but hold back from going as all-out as in his earlier efforts. But much like the superb BOOGIE NIGHTS outing by character-driven Paul Thomas Anderson, ZACK AND MIRI MAKE A PORNO is really less about pornography and more about its appealing leads.

Without question, the strength of ZACK AND MIRI lies in its titular characters, including the Apatow vet Seth Rogen as Zack and the always endearing Elizabeth Banks as Miri. These two exude enough onscreen chemistry for multiple movies and more than many of their ilk put together. Who knew that this film would feature one of the more compelling love stories in recent memory? Rogen is always smart and funny, and Banks, who has made a career as the picturesque girl next door (again in the recent W), does even more with her body language and facial expressions than with Smith’s dynamic words.

In fact, Smith fans should not beware, as ZACK AND MIRI contains many familiar Smith plot elements, turns of phrase, and themes, not to mention the requisite appearance of Jason Mewes in a key role. In many ways, this film is another in Smith’s formidable canon of low-budget indie experiments, and fans of his personal twist on raunch will not be displeased.

However, for those who would be turned off by the inclusion of the word “porno” in this film’s title should take notice: this is NOT a pornographic film and, while raw around the edges, ZACK AND MIRI should not be judged on that basis alone lest one forego a film whose most tender moments stay with you long after any memories of lewd imagery.

As one of the preeminent filmmakers to come out of the indie explosion of the early 1990s, which also brought forth such innovative directors as Anderson, Quentin Tarantino, and Richard Linklater to name but a few, Smith is clearly developing not only as a storyteller but as an overall auteur. While it might be easy to dismiss a film about pornography – even one that is not pornographic – in doing so, one will be missing the work of a maturing director whose best moments continually seem to be in front of him.