Saved! (2003)
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61% of critics liked it
(142 reviews) -
75% of users liked it
(107,532 ratings)
Mary (Jena Malone) is entering her senior year at American Eagle Christian High School. She seems to be in an ideal social position as one of the "Christian Jewels," the most devout and popular clique of girls in the school, led by the aggressively cheerful Hilary Faye (Mandy Moore). But… More Mary (Jena Malone) is entering her senior year at American Eagle Christian High School. She seems to be in an ideal social position as one of the "Christian Jewels," the most devout and popular clique of girls in the school, led by the aggressively cheerful Hilary Faye (Mandy Moore). But things take an unexpected turn when Mary's boyfriend, Dean (Chad Faust), tells her he may be gay. Mary hits her head and has a vision, in which Jesus tells her how to help "cure" Dean of his unnatural urges. Mary does everything in her power to sway Dean, but when his parents find out about his "problem," they send him away just before the school year starts, leaving Mary alone, confused, and, she soon finds out, pregnant. Mary's new situation causes her to question everything, including her friendship with the judgmental Hilary Faye and her faith. Her mother (Mary-Louise Parker) is too preoccupied with her flirtatious relationship with the school's married principal, Pastor Skip (Martin Donovan), to notice Mary's problem. Pastor Skip's dreamboat skateboarder son, Patrick (Patrick Fugit), has returned from missionary work and is attracted to Mary, but she already has too much to deal with. Just when she thinks her situation is hopeless, she finds a pair of unlikely allies in Hilary Faye's cynical wheelchair-bound brother, Roland (Macaulay Culkin), and wild, muscle car-driving provocateur Cassandra Edelstein (Eva Amurri), the school's only Jewish student. Saved! marks the feature debut of director Brian Dannelly, who co-wrote the script with Michael Urban. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi
- Directed By
- Brian Dannelly
- Written By
- Michael Urban, Brian Dannelly
- Genres
- Drama, Comedy
- In Theaters
- May 28, 2004 Wide
- Studio
- MGM
Critic Reviews
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, Time Out
It's a shame the closing moral about a more pragmatic, inclusive approach to spirituality is conveyed with such a heavy hand.
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Peter Rainer, New York Magazine
No doubt the filmmakers are bracing for -- even hoping for -- a display of ire from religious conservatives. But the truth is, nothing in Saved! stings.
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David Denby, New Yorker
A minor work, yet it has a teasing lilt to it, and to make it at all took courage and originality.
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Andrew Sarris, New York Observer
After two comically inventive scenes, it quickly turns soft and flat.
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Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star
Something puts the fear of God into Saved! about halfway in.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Jena Malone
as Mary
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Mandy Moore
as Hilary Faye
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Macaulay Culkin
as Roland
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Patrick Fugit
as Patrick
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Heather Matarazzo
as Tia
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Eva Amurri
as Cassandra
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Martin Donovan
as Pastor Skip
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Mary-Louise Parker
as Lillian
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Chad Faust
as Dean
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Elizabeth Thai
as Veronica
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Valerie Bertinelli
as Herself



