Are You Down With G-O-D?

Saved is a 2004 film directed by Brian Dannelly, starring Jena Malone, Mandy Moore, Macaulay Culkin, and Patrick Fugit. The film follows a troupe of teenagers into the hallowed halls of American Eagle Christian High School. These less than typical teenagers run into all kinds of hypocrisy when one of their friends confesses he is gay, sparking a chain of incidents that are both humorous and critical of close minded reactions, especially within typical Christianity. Dealing with teen pregnancy, homosexuality, infidelity, physical disabilities, and religion with a sarcastic humor, Saved is not your everyday teen movie.

The purpose of the film is to criticize the hypocrisy, judgmental preaching, and closed mindedness that is often a characteristic of (American) Christianity. Saved accomplishes its goal for the most part. While it falls a little short toward the end with a “preachy” speech from Jena Malone’s character. Malone’s speech seems to do exactly what has been mocked throughout the film; preach. A friend of mine said that the end of the film “takes the easy way out.” Despite this valid criticism, the film is overall enjoyable and critical of presumptions.

While focus on the family says that “the filmmakers are far too busy taking vituperative pot shots at Christ and His followers to care much about creating constructive criticism,” I say that the film is hilarious and worth seeing, especially if you can handle a few jokes at the expense of Christianity. In my opinion much of the criticism is valid as well.