Back Shelf Beauties
by Willie Waffle
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Saved
Saved is one of those movies begging
to become a hot button topic that starts a war between the religious right
and the liberal left, but the rest of us in the middle only will find an
average movie with some chuckles. I guess these guys need a lesson in rabble
rousing from Michael Moore.
Jena Malone stars as Mary - a senior at a suburban Baltimore Baptist high
school. During the summer before the school year begins, Mary is shocked
when her boyfriend, Dean (Chad Faust), admits that he thinks he is gay. This
sort of thing usually puts a damper on a relationship, but Mary, thinking
Jesus wants her to save Dean from becoming one of the
Queer Eye guys, decides to have sex with
him (note to self: women want to sleep with guys who aren't sure about being
gay, I hope this works at McFadden's this Friday night). It doesn't bring
him back to the hetero team, but Mary gets pregnant and isn't sure who to
turn to for help. As the school year gets underway, the young girl quickly
finds out who is a true friend and who isn't.
Who will denounce Mary? Who will help?
Hilarious at times, overdone at others,
Saved is a funny satire of young evangelicals
and fervent Christian youth that is better when you are familiar with the
subject, and when the material goes for the jugular. From the prayer groups
to the desire to be a good Christian to the Pastor desperately trying to
be hip, Saved provides a twisted,
but-closer-than-you-might-think, glimpse at today's Christian youth movement,
however the satire can be a little overbearing and simplistic at times. Sadly,
Saved can also border on being a weepy
after-school special trying to teach us a lesson. Director/writer Brian Dannelly
should have made a commitment to one or the other, but walking the line between
them detracts from the movie by removing the edge for those who want an all-out
satire, and adding too much of an edge for those who want a happy ending
full of sweetness and cheer. It's a good lesson in how trying to make everyone
happy can hurt the final product. Sometimes, you are better off aiming for
one group and serving them. Thankfully, a strong cast makes
Saved an entertaining movie.
Saved's supporting cast of familiar faces
putting in strong performances is the movie's biggest surprise. Mandy Moore
leads the movie's list of happy surprises as Hilary Faye - leader of the
clique and the movie's hypocritical villain. She does a wonderful job stripping
away the typical Mandy Moore sweetness and innocence to become a bitch on
wheels, but one that can hide it with a smile and a claim of acting in the
name of Jesus. Hilary is the movie's best character, and Moore makes the
movie rather than breaks it with her no holds barred portrayal. Maybe Mandy
has a future in the movies after all.
I hope you'll also enjoy performances from Macauley Culkin and Eva Amurri.
Culkin is all grown up now, and does a fine job with his role as Roland -
the school's handicapped student who is more liberated and daring than almost
everyone else. He captures Roland's independence and need to be treated like
an equal without screaming it, which makes for a nice, subtle, refreshing
performance. Amurri is the closest the movie gets to full blown satire as
Cassandra - a troublemaking student who also happens to be the only Jewish
kid. I have enjoyed seeing Amurri on the screen in previous movies
(The Banger Sisters), and she is developing
into a solid actress who doesn't make Cassandra into a caricature or one
that is flailing at convention for its own sake.
Unfortunately, Malone puts in the weakest performance, as she doesn't show
half the screen presence of Amurri, Culkin or Moore. She sucks the life out
of Mary and doesn't do anything to make the character memorable as Dannelly
and co-writer Michael Urban stick her with all of the mushy after-school
special material. While I wish Dannelly slipped a little Red Bull into her
drinks, Mary isn't given enough of an edge as she develops a new crush, hides
the pregnancy from everyone and has a difficult relationship with her Mom.
Saved is a 50-50 proposition. While you
won't be moved strongly to love it or hate it, you'll wish you could be pushed
in some direction.
2 Waffles (Out Of 4)
Copyright 2004 - WaffleMovies.com
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