This coming weekend, moviegoers will get the chance to see Eva Amurri star alongside Adam Sandler and Andy Samberg in That’s My Boy, a comedy dealing with teens and pregnancy. This isn’t Eva’s first time poking fun at this serious subject; for that we look to Brian Dannelly’s debut feature film, Saved!.
Jesus has been at the center of her life ever since Mary (Jena Malone) was born-again at age three. Naturally, that’s why when her boyfriend, Dean (Chad Faust), confides that he may be homosexual, Jesus comes to Mary in a vision and asks her to help cure Dean of his spiritually toxic affliction. By the summer’s end, Chad’s parents send him to Mercy House despite Mary giving all of herself, including her virginity, to “de-gayify” him. After learning that doing God’s work has left her pregnant, Mary loses her faith and falls out of favor with her best friend Hilary Faye (Mandy Moore) as she tries to hide her secret.
I first experienced Saved! at a free screening where gifts of posters, hats, arm bands, and tins of “sacra-mints” were lauded upon the attendees. While I enjoyed these trinkets, I didn’t need any of them to curry favor for the movie. It’s a genuinely thoughtful and amusing film which tackles the complications rigid Christian faith encounters in contemporary society. The work by writers Brian Dannelly and Michael Urban, under the direction Dannelly, lampoons Christian stereotypes without condemning them. In fact, the good intentions of every character ultimately rise above all else.
To accomplish this, Saved! is blessed with a extremely talented, and under-appreciated cast. Jena Malone is spectacular as the once wide-eyed, now disillusioned mother-to-be. She provides some context via voice-over, but much of the emotional heft she conveys through her expressive eyes. Opposite her, Mandy Moore proves she’s more than just a pretty face with a good voice, although she does sing during the film’s first twenty minutes. Moore owns the role of Hilary Faye, the good-hearted, fanatical bitch. She conveys such conviction when she proclaims to be “filled with Christ’s love” while simultaneously throwing a Bible at Mary. That scene cracks me up every time.
I thought Macaulay Culkin’s role as Roland would herald the rebirth of his career, but I guess enough people did not see Saved!. Eva Amurri makes an indelible impression as the outwardly abrasive Jewish student, Cassandra. Patrick Fugit continues to impress, here by playing the dreamy and worldly son of Pastor Skip (Martin Donovan). Speaking of the silly pastor, I can think of several actors who could have pulled off Skip’s absurdly hip dialogue, but few aside from Martin Donovan could have also weighed in with the conflicted emotional performance. Mary-Louise Parker who plays Mary’s oblivious mother Lillian and Heather Matarazzo who plays Mary’s replacement in the Christian Jewels both have small parts, but will crack you up.
Great performances all around and, as I look back on the cast, I am dumfounded these actors do not work more often. As we wait for them to find continued success, at least we have memorable gems like Saved! to enjoy when we miss them.
Andrew (8)
Wayne (8)
John (6)
Josh (6)
Justin (5)
Lauren (5)
Steve (5)
Dave Enkosky (4)
Jessica (4)
Sir Phobos (4)
One of my favorite flicks about teenage pregnancy. Where in the world is Patrick Fugit these days?
Twitter: waywardjam
June 12, 2012 2:07 pm
Apparently he shows up in We Bought a Zoo. Another reason to rent that sometime.
Twitter: waywardjam
June 12, 2012 2:07 pm
Also, favorite teen pregnancy flicks sounds like a list waiting to happen. I’ll pass it along.
Twitter: manilovefilms
June 14, 2012 4:03 pm
If you two haven’t watched Wristcutters yet, do it now! You’ll love it! And it would give Wayne material.
Twitter: waywardjam
June 17, 2012 7:46 am
Sadly, that’s been in my NFQ for ages. I’ll see if I can’t bump it up.
Twitter: ftstweets
June 12, 2012 1:26 pm
I love Saved! I bought it on a whim and was so glad I found it. I feel like no one has heard of it which is unfortunate. I always hoped Jena Malone would do something other than Sucker Punch. The performances all around are so great though.
Twitter: waywardjam
June 12, 2012 2:12 pm
So many people look at me cross-eyed when I mention this movie, glad to see it getting love.
I want so much more for Jena than Sucker Punch. Maybe some of her upcoming projects will rank alongside Saved! and Donnie Darko.
Don’t worry Jess… I’ve already written a project for Ms. Malone and I have a couple of more in the works where one project is for her and another is an ensemble project that will make Sucker Punch look like a schoolyard fight.
Twitter: waywardjam
June 12, 2012 2:14 pm
Mmmm, intriguing. I’d love to see a project that will be as, if not more, awesome as Sucker Punch failed to be.
All I can say about the project, that is going to get a new title and is currently half-finished in its outline stage, is this…
It’s more nihilistic. The violence is far more brutal. There’s no dream sequences. No effects-driven scenes. It’s just a revenge tale with lots of sex and violence. Sergio Leone meets Lars von Trier.
Twitter: waywardjam
June 13, 2012 1:44 pm
Sex, violence, and Sergio Leone. I can’t wait.
Twitter: manilovefilms
June 14, 2012 4:06 pm
I’m sad to report that I had to read your summary to refresh myself on this. I remembered the (very) broad strokes, but that was it. And I liked it! Maybe I’m just getting senile young. I dig the cast in this (Moore at her best) and the subject matter and wry wit was right up my alley. Good one to spotlight and refresh people on, Wayne (like me!).
Twitter: waywardjam
June 17, 2012 7:50 am
Thanks!
Senile young, I’m very guilty of that myself with more recent movies. My problem is it’s rare that I watch newer movies more than twice, whereas in the 80s and 90s I would wear shit out. Is the same true for you?
Twitter: manilovefilms
June 18, 2012 8:23 am
I’d say it depends on the movie. I mean, more than anything, it’s time and growing responsibilities that keep us from rewatching things like Star Wars 100 times, but, especially with the flicks that play again and again on channels like FX (Hi, Batman Begins), I’m sure I’ll end up watching them at least a half-dozen times in the 5-10 years after their release. Might not happen with as many films, but it’ll still happen.
Twitter: waywardjam
June 18, 2012 12:04 pm
Very true. I wind up watching the mediocre flicks that play on FX and channels like it over the greats. I tell myself it’ll make for good background while I buzz about, whereas great movies like Batman Begins I’ll pass altogether because I’ll inevitably gravitate to the couch and get sucked in. Sad because if I really want to watch it, I should just put in the DVD and not sit through commercials.