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I have to admit I was
skeptical when I saw the trailer for Saved! Parodying in itself is a risky
business if not done correctly, let alone parodying Christian teens. But Saved!
was one of the most enjoyable comedies I’ve seen this year.
Mandy Moore
carries the flick as Hilary Faye, the "it" girl of American Eagle Christian High School.
She's blonde, she's popular, and she's in love with the Lord. As in any high school
flick, she has her followers, Mary and Veronica. While Veronica, played by newcomer
Elizabeth Thai, serves as nothing more than an accessory for Hilary Faye, Mary, played by
Stepmom alum Jena Malone, serves as the narrator and the main
character.
Malone as Mary gives a wonderfully satiric performance as the
popular girl who falls from grace. The movie opens with Mary describing her perfect
life. She attends a wonderful school, lives in a gorgeous home, and has the "perfect"
Christian boyfriend, Dean. When Dean discovers he might be leaning toward the gay
persuasion, Mary does the only thing she can think of—she tries to save him.
Through Mary, we’re introduced to the rest of the cast. Macaulay Culkin
is Hilary Faye's handicapped brother, Roland, who doesn't quite subscribe to the ideals
of the other teens at American Eagle. Susan Sarandon's daughter, Eva Amurri, plays the
rebellious Cassandra, a Jewish girl who has caught the eye of both Roland and Hilary
Faye. Roland wants to be with her, and Hilary Faye wants to save her and bring her back
into the life of Christ.
The cast quickly grows on you and makes this film
the success that it is. Breakout performances from Macaulay Culkin and Mandy Moore will
have you laughing from the minute you walk into the theatre. From Moore's over-the-top
temper tantrum, which ends with Hilary Faye beheading a plaster Jesus statue, to
Culkin's "Will dance for money" beggar routine in the mall, the film jumps from
melodramatic to subtle in its satire.
Saved! is a film worth the
full price of admission. The characters will have you laughing and crying before the
movie is over.
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