Saved! (2004)

Director:

Brian Dannelly

Writers (WGA):

Brian Dannelly (written by) &
Michael Urban (written by)

Release Date:

16 September 2004 (Germany)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Heaven Help Us.

Plot:

When a girl attending a Christian high school becomes pregnant, she finds herself ostracized and demonized, as all of her former friends turn on her.

Plot Keywords:

High School | Pastor | Sex | Friendship | Satire

Awards:

1 win & 6 nominations

Cast

Jena Malone	...	Mary
Mandy Moore	...	Hilary Faye
Macaulay Culkin	...	Roland
Patrick Fugit	...	Patrick
Heather Matarazzo	...	Tia
Eva Amurri	...	Cassandra
Chad Faust	...	Dean
Elizabeth Thai	...	Veronica
Martin Donovan	...	Pastor Skip
Mary-Louise Parker	...	Lillian
Kett Turton	...	Mitch
Julia Arkos	...	PE Coach
Donna White	...	Trudy Mason
James Caldwell	...	Hairdresser
Nicki Clyne	...	Guitar Player

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for strong thematic issues involving teens - sexual content, pregnancy, smoking and language.

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Sweden:7 | Malaysia:U | Ireland:15PG | USA:PG-13 (certificate #39323) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:14A (British Columbia/Ontario) | Chile:TE | Finland:K-11 | Germany:12 | Iceland:L | Norway:A | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:M18 | Singapore:NC-16 (cut) | UK:12A | Peru:PT

Filming Locations:

Clayton Heights Secondary, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

United Artists

Trivia:

As Pastor Skip enters the school library to talk to Hilary Faye and the Christian Jewels about Mary, there is a READ poster featuring R.E.M. visible over his shoulder. Michael Stipe is the lead singer of R.E.M. and also co-produced the film.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Mary hits her head on the ladder and starts to drown, the carpenter dives into the pool to save her. When he dives in, he is wearing shoes, but as he brings her back to the surface, he is barefoot.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Mary: [voice over] I've been born again my whole life... accepting Jesus.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Anatomy of a Scene: Saved!" (2004)

Soundtrack:

Personal Jesus

Meaner Girls

Saved is very funny satire/comedy-drama on whacked-out Christian fundamentalists.

Basically at a Christian High-School (which is about as narrow-minded, hypocritical and contradicting as my own was) there is this clique of girls called the 'Christian Jewels', which are not to dissimilar from 'The Plastics' in Mean Girls. Every girl wants to be a part of the Jewels, including geeky, desperate Tia (Heather Matarazazazazazo rehashing her role from Welcome to the Dollhouse). I would find her attractive if she hadn't dyed her hair an unconvincing blonde. Too bad she's er...married.

After earning her way into this clique Mary (Jena Malone) is devastated when her boyfriend confesses his massive gayness. Eager to 'cure' him of this ungodly condition Mary offers up her virginity to him, only to get pregnant. Obviously this bun in the oven secret threatens to tear everyone's flimsy little world apart.

Hilary Faye, the leader of the Christian Jewels is appalled at Mary's sudden lack of faith and makes it her mission to save her, whatever the method or cost. Obviously Mary doesn't appreciate this and it only drives her to further isolation.

Saved is superior to Mean Girls in terms of relevance and wit. Though I'm afraid the target audience will no doubt pass this over in favor for Miss Lohan as discussion of God and the lack of pink will fail to attract as young an audience.

The acting is great. Jena Malone is more of an actress than Lohan/Duff, Macaulay Culkin was effective as the wheelchair-bound Roland, Mandy Moore is so innocently evil as Hilary Faye she makes Regina George look timid and Eva Amurri is like so totally gorgeous! Seriously! Wow! Too bad she smokes. NEXT!

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Saved to anyone. It's funny and clever and outdoes all 'teen-comedies' by transcending the genre. A rarity indeed.