Smith wins 'Porno' rating appeal

Kevin Smith has won an appeal to have the rating for his new comedy Zack And Miri Make A Porno lowered from NC-17 to R in the US.

The filmmaker had earlier encountered problems with the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) over the sexual content of the movie, which focuses on two lifelong friends who try to solve their cash problems by making a porn film.

Smith told the Associated Press: "We didn't set out to make an NC-17 film. That's just commercial suicide."

The NC-17 is often considered the kiss of death for a movie in the US as it prevents anyone under 17 from seeing it. An R rating is more desirable because it allows those under 17 to watch with an adult.

Smith said the MPAA was initially reluctant to lower the rating because of two sex scenes involving Jason Mewes and Katie Morgan.

He explained: "They felt it was rather sexually graphic. My point is, it was comically graphic. All the sex in the movie with the exception of one scene is very cartoonish, very campy. It wasn't designed to titillate."

After presenting his case to the appeals panel, Smith managed to secure an R rating for the film.

He added: "Anybody not inclined to see a movie with Porno in the title is not going to see it, so it kind of regulates itself to a degree."