Hasta La Creative!

Kevin Smith‘s “Zack and Miri Make a Porno” was almost rated NC-17, cuz’ they show penis and vagina in the context of sexy times. Luckily, Smith was able to talk his way into an R rating, but now the movie’s ads are facing similar scrutiny from the poor folks who have been exposed to the word ‘porno’ and their kiddies.

No joke. One guy said he and his son were watching a baseball game, and while he was explaining the sacrifice bunt scenario to his little one, the commercial came on. Kid’s response, “Dad, what does ‘porno’ mean?”

And that’s generally the type of response the campaign is getting from parents and prudes; the outcome has had (in our opinion) a negative effect on commerce, free speech and what’s probably a funny movie. Ad placement on bus shelters and other public places posters et cetera have in some cases they have been pulled. All this, according to the AP.

Take a look at the ads. The one we’ve shown is pretty standard for the campaign &#151 they read, “Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks made a movie so titillating that we can only show you this drawing”. Um, they’re not kidding. In all, “15 newspapers and several TV stations and cable channels” have denied the campaign placement, mostly on the principle that the word “porno” creates controversy.

Controversy? “Porno” is probably one of the funniest words in our language. No one ever said, “Dude, you gotta see this porno I just found” because it was so hot. In my experience it’s always been used in the context of situations like, oh say, “Two girls, one cup”.

So maybe it’s confusing to kids, and we understand the struggle parents might have with explaining to their young ones what a porno is. But why is this all of a sudden a problem? What happens when the kid flips through the Sunday comics and the Kohl’s lingerie insert falls out (do kids even read the comics anymore”) and BAM there’s a 20-something blond in lace undies and a wire frame bra? Johnny just got his first erection is what happens, and there ends his youth (or so the prudes would have us think).

This campaign could not be any less sexual. In fact, a friend of mine saw the movie and told me the sex scenes were completely unsexy &#151 which is reflected in the ads. It’s a Seth Rogen flick, what more should we say about it?

Find out, after the jump.

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