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Sharp Satire Hits Bull's Eye
by Timothy (movies profile)
Dec 31, 2006
18
of
20 people found this review helpful
When I was a freshman in college I remember the variety of religious groups formed on my campus. One day walking to a class I spotted a girl giving me a flirtatious smile, so I initiated a conversation. It turned out she was just trying to get me to come to a religious gathering of hers that week. At that point I wanted to end the conversation, which was easy to do. All I told her was that I was a Roman Catholic and it didn't take her long to end the conversation while looking at me like I was an evildoer on the wrong side of God's neighborhood. This is an example of religious ostracism. What does this have to do with the recent film "Saved"? Everything actually. "Saved" is a high school comedy that does not include a choreographed dance scene involving Freddie Prinze Jr., sex with pie, or the usual offering of stereotyped high school cliques. It is a smart comedy that points out the problem with some Christian youths who think they are full of holiness, but are still clueless about the true essence of life.
"Saved" introduces us to the students at a Christian high school. Like every high school there is a clique of popular girls who preside over the hallways with ruling fists. These girls are known as the Christian Jewells and their ringleader is Hilary Faye (Mandy Moore). Mary (Jena Malone) is a member of the Jewells and has problems of her own oustside of the school. While attempting to do God's will and de-gay her closeted boyfriend (Chad Faust), Mary finds herself pregnant and realizes that her Jesus-obsessed friends aren't as nurturing as she thought they were. Macaulay Culkin plays Hilary Faye's wheelchair-bound brother, and Eva Amurri portrays the rebellious Jewish student at the Christian school.
From many personal experiences, I have to give "Saved" a pat on the back and an enthustiastic "right on." This has to be the smartest high school film since "Election." Mandy Moore portrays Hilary Faye with a wicked edge that resurrects the personas of "Election"'s Tracy Flick and religion guru Tammy Faye Baker. Not only does Moore prove herself a talented actress (epecially for a pop singer), but the ensemble cast shines. Macaulay Culkin makes an impressive turn as the nonchalant, care-free Roland, Eva Amurri (Susan Sarandon's daugher) steals every scene she is in as the liberated Cassandra, and Martin Donovan is memorable as Pastor Skip, the minister who runs the school with a hilarious "you can love God and still be cool" attitude.
Every once and a while a movie comes along that connects with personal experiences one has had in life, and "Saved" is one of those movies for me. Since high school I have encountered youths who belong to a disguised clique that they call a "church group." Don't get me wrong, I think church groups are a wonderful thing. I even belonged to a church youth group in H.S. However I am not down with the kind of church groups who ostracize and look down on people around them just because they are different (a.k.a., "not doing God's will"). When it comes to religion, who knows which denomination is really right? However, I belive if there is a God he/she believes in forgiveness and loving your fellow human whether they are homosexual, Jewish, or unwed mothers. If God doesn't approve, then why did he/she create them in the first place?
"Saved" is a bold comedy that is carried with a light, heavenly tone by director Brian Danelly and its PG-13 rating. I was wrapped up in this comedy from start to finish and found myself laughing hysterically. "Saved" is one of the funniest comedies and one of the best films to come out this year (so far). If you are up for a comedy of divine proportions "Saved" should definitely be your next ticket at the movie theater. |
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