Film Review
Saved!
Dir. Brian DannellyScr. Brian Dannelly & Michael Urban
Jena Malone
Mandy Moore
Macaulay Culkin
Patrick Fugit
Official Site - www.savedmovie.com
You've seen the Passion, now get Saved! On the heels of the global phenomenon that is Mel Gibson's Passion comes another movie with a strong Christian perspective. But they couldn't be more different if they tried! Just as the Passion generated some heated debate about its perhaps unnecessary violence, Saved is causing a little uporoar amongst the many Chritian media figures who are upset at the film's content.
Saved is a satirical and heartfelt look at events in a Christian High School. American Eagle High School is Christian and suburban, everyone loves Jesus, except for the sole jewish member of the school's population who attends because it was a better option than being homeschooled by 'those freaks called my parents.'
The premise of the movie is quite simple. Mary (played by Jena Malone) is a member of the Christian Jewels, a group of girl, led by Mandy Moore, who loves Jesus more than anyone, or at least thinks she does. Mary is told by her nice Christian boyfriend that he is gay and she then proceeds to receive a vision from Jesus in which he encourages her to do everything he can to help him. They have sex, he gets hauled off to a Christian healing center, she gets pregnant. This prompts a crisis of faith and quite a few laughs.
Saved takes itself seriously, but it is a comedy (this is what most of the Christian commentators didn't get and most of them, as usual, hadn't actually seen the film before they trashed it). If you have been around any kind of Christian environment in the past 10-15 years then you will find all the usual suspects, stereotypes and issues present in the film. It helps to have some knowledge of the evangelical subculture but the film does work alright without that knowledge.
Far from being a slam of Christianity or religion in general Saved is actually a movie about belief, about faith and ultimately about love, tolerance and friendship. The director and co-writer, Brian Dannellly, grew up in an environment similar to the film's setting and has some axes to grind but also seeks to affirm real faith in the midst of the usual institutional gaffs. Saved is ably served by a well-rounded cast that includes Macauley Culkin (Home Alone and Party Monster), Patrick Fugit (Almost Famous) and singer/actress Mandy Moore. While not as theologically complex or grounded as Kevin Smith's Dogma, Saved is worth a viewing. Just so long as you hold your faith seriously enough to laugh at it.
Saved is a satirical and heartfelt look at events in a Christian High School. American Eagle High School is Christian and suburban, everyone loves Jesus, except for the sole jewish member of the school's population who attends because it was a better option than being homeschooled by 'those freaks called my parents.'
The premise of the movie is quite simple. Mary (played by Jena Malone) is a member of the Christian Jewels, a group of girl, led by Mandy Moore, who loves Jesus more than anyone, or at least thinks she does. Mary is told by her nice Christian boyfriend that he is gay and she then proceeds to receive a vision from Jesus in which he encourages her to do everything he can to help him. They have sex, he gets hauled off to a Christian healing center, she gets pregnant. This prompts a crisis of faith and quite a few laughs.
Saved takes itself seriously, but it is a comedy (this is what most of the Christian commentators didn't get and most of them, as usual, hadn't actually seen the film before they trashed it). If you have been around any kind of Christian environment in the past 10-15 years then you will find all the usual suspects, stereotypes and issues present in the film. It helps to have some knowledge of the evangelical subculture but the film does work alright without that knowledge.
Far from being a slam of Christianity or religion in general Saved is actually a movie about belief, about faith and ultimately about love, tolerance and friendship. The director and co-writer, Brian Dannellly, grew up in an environment similar to the film's setting and has some axes to grind but also seeks to affirm real faith in the midst of the usual institutional gaffs. Saved is ably served by a well-rounded cast that includes Macauley Culkin (Home Alone and Party Monster), Patrick Fugit (Almost Famous) and singer/actress Mandy Moore. While not as theologically complex or grounded as Kevin Smith's Dogma, Saved is worth a viewing. Just so long as you hold your faith seriously enough to laugh at it.