SAVING SILVERMAN (2001)

Directed By: Dennis Dugan 
Written By: Hank Nelken & Greg DePaul 
Cinematography By: Arthur Albert 
Editor: Debra Neil-Fisher 


Cast: Jason Biggs, Amanda Peet, Steve Zahn, Jack Black, Amanda Detmer, R. Lee Ermey, Neil Diamond, Kyle Gass 


Two dim-witted former high school buddys and Neil Diamond fanactics, Wayne and J.D., plot to keep their friend Darren from marrying the wrong woman, a domineering and spiteful psychologist named Judith by kidnapping her and trying to set Darren up with his old high school girlfriend Sandy who plans to become a nun

This film is silly but fun. It strangely at times becomes absurd and even a bit surreal and abstract. Though strangely works overall.

This film is noteworthy if anything else. Then for being Jack Black’s first million dollar paycheck after stealing scenes in HIGH FIDELITY. It’s shocking that he got that much for play by a supporting role in this film. Though it seems most of the leading cast is up and comers at the time coming off of surprise hit movies. So though the movies storyline is thin. It seems that with these names the film would be a slam dunk financially.

Strangely with Jason Biggs and Jack Black involved. It’s Steve Zahn who ends up with the most screentime. Jack black is more like a distant third In the cast. He’s around but doesn’t seem to do much. Just filling out the trio and doing a lot of the loud, buffoonish physical stuff. His performance doesn’t seem forced just loud. Though it does help to shape his future more popular type of comedic performances only here it lacks any nuance.

Which is also the movies downfall. The material is not that good. It’s downright stupid and the only thing that keeps the film afloat is the cast. The filmmakers are smart in figuring that bringing in these comedic actors it would help illuminate the material or at least get actors who could improv their way with it.

The film strangely becomes graphic in some scenes which kind of disrupts the easy going vibe the film usually trails along with.

The film isn’t terrible. The characters obsession with Wayne Newton is cute and has a great payoff. R Lee Ermy always can be hilarious going with and against his on screen personality.

Amanda Peet seems to be loose and having fun. This is actually one of her loosest roles in which to shine. Her character is a full comedic creation. Rather then just the girlfriend role or the bitchy role.

Steve Zahn is always reliable with his comic timing and silly kind of stupid leader of this crew.

This film is a nice, nasty slapstick romantic comedy with a heavy emphasis on the comedy. It’s not a film I would want to own but a nice entertaining watch.

The problems with the film is that some of the jokes fall flat and are expected. Some of the things that are funny just seem to be abandoned, still yet some stuff just is random. Where it comes out of nowhere and for some films that might work as it goes with the territory (ANCHORMAN) It’s like it’s dancing feeling the rhythm And going well, then just losing the tone and begins mistepping and can’t get it back.

This film is like someone you think is cute, but just not really your type. You can go out and hang a few times, but it’s not like going to go that far and you invite her to big functions. Not so much private functions.

Grade: C+