WaffleMovies.com


 

Back Shelf Beauties
by Willie Waffle


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