Saved!

Released:  June 11^th, 2004

Rated:  PG-13

Distributor:  United Artists

Starring:  Jena Malone, Mandy Moore, Macaulay Culkin, Eva Amurri, Patrick Fugit

Directed by:  Brian Dannelly

Written by:  Brian Dannelly, Michael Urban

Personal Bias Alert:  first saw it in high school, likes Patrick Fugit

6.2 of 10

            Coming out a mere six weeks after Tina Fey’s hit Mean Girls, Saved! understandably got a bit lost in its predecessor’s shadow.  Mean Girls is a clean, punchy teen comedy that skewers high school dynamics.  Saved!, on the other hand, is an unsure yet bold teen comedy that skewers both the evangelical Christian movement and the outsider’s reaction to it.  The former is much more relatable and much safer to a wide audience, but Saved! has more merits and might have done us some good if we had embraced it with the same fervor as Mean Girls.

            Set in the kind of private high school that I imagine the kids from Jesus Camp attending (complete with intelligent design posters and reluctant sex ed lessons), the plastics at this school are the most devout, the ones who spout Jesus’s message at every opportunity, leaving anyone who openly questions or rejects the word at the bottom of the social totem pole.  Mary (Jena Malone) starts at the top, winning her way into the highest echelon of the pecking order (for which she literally gets a pin), but a mixed-up message from God leads her to sleep with her gay boyfriend, become pregnant, and lose her elevated status.  There to catch her are outcasts Cassandra (Eva Amurri), Roland (Macaulay Culkin), and the Pastor’s son, Patrick (Patrick Fugit).

            Understand that, in 2004, America was still in the midst of a prominent evangelical movement, as well as only beginning to broach the issue of gay rights seriously.  The idea that a film aimed at teens would address these topics head on while poking fun at them and somehow maintaining a PG-13 rating was novel, and stumbles by such a path-forging film are to be expected.  Writer/director Brian Dannelly never quite finds the sweet spot of his satire, if one even exists, going from too biting at the beginning to too sweet at the end, but you can’t deny how satisfying his one-liners are.  Meanwhile, his characters are largely one-dimensional, fulfilling whatever type was necessary to make this story play out as it does.  The arc of this film is rather obvious from the beginning, but the fact that such a film even existed in 2004 is remarkable enough to excuse a few glaring faults.

            The cast is largely what saves this film, led by the pitch perfect Malone who’s backed up in every direction by game performers.  Mandy Moore chews the scenery as the gatekeeper of the saved, constantly spouting her superiority and aggressively pursuing those who she feels needs God’s word.  She invites your hatred without letting you completely give up on her character, a tightrope that she walks rather well.  The rabble of nonconformists are led by Culkin, who gives the most mature performance of his sparse adult career, alongside stalwart supporting players like Fugit, Amurri, and Mary-Louise Parker.  Malone navigates the trickiest arc, conveying the lessons of the film while touting an ever-growing attitude and belly.  Her eventual snark and self-confidence feels earned thanks to Malone’s subtle movement through the character’s changing beliefs, something that’s remarkably not over- nor underplayed.

            The messages that the film hits you with are neither subtle nor easy, encouraging a complex and understanding view of faith and humanity.  The messages are often stated by one character or another, which is equal parts rallying and gag-inducing, but does include my favorite line of the film (a cheer-worthy moment delivered after someone literally throws a bible).  If you can’t handle on the nose films then this one will drive you insane, but if you can put aside the mistakes that Saved! makes while taking on complex issues, then you’ll find a funny, smart, and understanding film.

Other Notes (Awesome Quotes Version):

Ø  “It’s like a girl gang for Jesus.”

Ø  “I’m not dating right now.”  “What about tomorrow night?  Will you be dating then?”

Ø  “I’m saving myself until marriage, and I’ll use force if necessary.”

Other Noted (Regular Version):

Ø  I loved this as a teenager.  My love has subsided as I’ve aged, the reasons for which are not entirely clear to me.

Ø  It must have been confusing for Patrick Fugit to play a character named Patrick.  Or maybe it was the least confusing role he’s had.