View source for Saved!

{{short description|2004 American satirical film}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{for-multi|the album|Saved! (album){{!}}''Saved!'' (album)|other uses|Saved (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = Saved!
| image          = Saved! movie poster.jpg
 
| alt            = 
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Brian Dannelly]]
| producer       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Michael Ohoven]]
* [[Sandy Stern]]
* [[Michael Stipe]]
* [[William Vince]]
}}
| writer         = {{Plainlist|
* Brian Dannelly
* Michael Urban
}}
| starring       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Jena Malone]]
* [[Mandy Moore]]
* [[Macaulay Culkin]]
* [[Patrick Fugit]]
* [[Heather Matarazzo]]
* [[Eva Amurri]]
* [[Martin Donovan]]
* [[Mary-Louise Parker]]
}}
| music          = [[Christophe Beck]]
| cinematography = Bobby Bukowski
| editing        = Pamela Martin
| studio         = [[United Artists]]
| distributor    = [[MGM Distribution Co.]]
| released       = {{Film date|2004|1|21|[[Sundance Film Festival|Sundance]]|2004|5|28}}
| runtime        = 92 minutes
| country        = United States
| language       = 
| budget         = $5 million<ref name=bom/>
| gross          = $10.1 million<ref name=bom/>
}}
'''''Saved!''''' is a 2004 American [[Independent film|independent]] [[satire|satirical]] [[black comedy film]] directed by [[Brian Dannelly]], and starring [[Jena Malone]], [[Mandy Moore]], [[Macaulay Culkin]], [[Patrick Fugit]], [[Eva Amurri]], [[Martin Donovan]], and [[Mary-Louise Parker]]. Its plot follows a teenage girl (Malone) at a Christian high school who has sex with her boyfriend in an attempt to "cure" him of his [[homosexuality]]; she becomes pregnant as a result and is ostracized by her schoolmates. Filmed in British Columbia, the film had its theatrical release on May 28, 2004. ''Saved!'' was considered a [[sleeper hit]], grossing over $9 million domestically following a [[limited release|platform release]] through [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]]. The film received mixed reviews from critics, with many remarking on its blend of [[religious satire]] with elements of the contemporary [[teen film]].

==Plot==
Devout [[Evangelicalism|evangelical Christian]] Mary Cummings is entering her senior year at American Eagle Christian High School near [[Baltimore]]. She and her friends Hilary Faye and Veronica have formed a [[girl group]] called the Christian Jewels. One afternoon, while swimming in his pool, Mary's boyfriend Dean Withers confesses to her that he suspects he is [[gay]]. In shock, Mary hits her head, and has a vision in which [[Jesus]] tells her to help Dean. Believing Jesus will forgive her, Mary loses her virginity to Dean in an attempt to restore his heterosexuality.

Dean is sent to Christian treatment center Mercy House after his parents find [[gay pornography]] in his bedroom. The news shocks and disgusts Mary's friends, aside from Hilary's sardonic, [[paraplegic]] brother Roland. Mary later discovers she is pregnant with Dean's child. Because her due date is after graduation, she opts to hide the pregnancy from her classmates and her mother Lillian, who is covertly dating the school's principal Pastor Skip. Feeling forsaken by Jesus and saddened by her peers' reaction to Dean's sexuality, Mary begins questioning her faith. An enraged Hilary ousts Mary from the Jewels and replaces her with unpopular student Tia. Hilary, Veronica, and Tia later accost Mary in the street and attempt to perform an [[exorcism]] on her. Mary fights back, and Hilary strikes her with a Bible.

By Christmas time, rebellious [[Judaism|Jewish]] student Cassandra is the only one of Mary's peers who has discovered her pregnancy. Mary befriends Cassandra and Roland, who are now dating, while ostracized by the rest of their peers. Meanwhile, Skip's son, Patrick, attempts to pursue an evasive Mary, much to Hilary's chagrin. Cassandra and Roland retaliate against Hilary's constant harassment of them by uploading photos of a young, overweight Hilary to the school's computer system. The following day, the school is vandalized with obscene, [[Blasphemy|blasphemous]] [[graffiti]]. Suspecting Mary, Cassandra, and Roland, Skip searches their lockers, where he discovers empty spray-paint cans planted by Hilary, along with a [[Medical ultrasonography|sonogram]] of Mary's baby, exposing her pregnancy.

Cassandra is expelled while Mary and Roland are banned from the impending [[prom]]. Skip threatens to end his relationship with Lillian if she does not send Mary to Mercy House. Meanwhile, Roland discovers the purchase of spray paint on Hilary's credit card statement. Armed with this evidence, Mary, Roland, and Cassandra crash the prom along with Patrick, who takes Mary as his date. Hilary tries to have them ejected, but Roland confronts her with the evidence. Tia, tired of Hilary's lies and [[hypocrisy]], also attests her guilt to Skip, having discovered a receipt bearing Hilary's signature.

A humiliated Hilary storms outside while Dean arrives with his boyfriend Mitch and other residents of Mercy House. They are met by Mary and Patrick in the school foyer, where she reveals her pregnancy to Dean. Skip attempts to banish the Mercy House residents, but they refuse to leave. Patrick and Mary attempt to argue with Skip, but their altercation is interrupted by Hilary driving recklessly through the parking lot and ultimately crashing into the school's effigy of Jesus. She then tearfully expresses remorse for her behavior and is comforted by Cassandra as Mary abruptly goes into labor and is taken to the hospital.

At the hospital, Mary gives birth to a daughter. Skip arrives with flowers and contemplates going inside. As a nurse takes a photo of the group, Mary explains in a voice-over that she has concluded that life is too beautiful to be random and meaningless, and continues to believe in a higher power of some kind.

==Cast==
* [[Jena Malone]] as Mary Cummings, a quiet girl who attempts to help her gay ex-boyfriend, Dean, by giving him her virginity, [[Unintended pregnancy|unintentionally becoming pregnant]].
* [[Mandy Moore]] as Hilary Faye Stockard, the leader of the Christian Jewels and initially Mary's best friend.  She is an extremely devout conservative Christian, though very self-righteous and overbearing, much to the annoyance of others. She reluctantly cares for her disabled brother, Roland, keeping him on a tight leash.
* [[Macaulay Culkin]] as Roland Stockard, Hilary Faye's sardonic brother. He fell out of a tree as a child, leaving him a [[paraplegic]]. Unlike his sister, he does not identify as Christian.
* [[Eva Amurri]] as Cassandra Edelstein, the only Jewish girl to ever attend American Eagle. She is naturally rebellious and devious on the outside, but when she becomes friends with Mary, her true colors show in that she is actually very loyal and open.
* [[Patrick Fugit]] as Patrick Wheeler, the son of Pastor Skip, the school's principal, and Mary's love interest.
* Elizabeth Thai as Veronica; adopted from Vietnam by a pair of missionaries, she is the third Christian Jewel.
* [[Chad Faust]] as Dean Withers, Mary's boyfriend at the beginning of the film. He comes out to Mary as gay.
* [[Martin Donovan]] as Pastor Skip Wheeler, the principal of American Eagle. A superficially pious and devout minister who is permanently separated from his wife, Pastor Skip tries to remain "young and cool".
* [[Heather Matarazzo]] as Tia; somewhat of an outsider in the beginning, Tia takes Mary's place in the Jewels when Mary is kicked out. 
* [[Mary-Louise Parker]] as Lillian Cummings, Mary's mother, a widow from an early age.
* [[Kett Turton]] as Mitch, a fellow gay resident of Mercy House who becomes Dean's boyfriend.
* [[Dave Rosin]], guitarist of the Canadian pop-rock band [[Hedley (band)|Hedley]], appears as the guitarist for the band playing in the prom scene.

==Production==
Director and co-writer Brian Dannelly based much of the film on things he had experienced and witnessed while attending a [[Baptists|Baptist Christian]] high school.<ref name=cc>{{cite web|work=Canadian Christianity|url=https://canadianchristianity.com/saved-2037/|title=''Saved!''|last=Chattaway|first=Peter D.|date=September 5, 2004|archive-url=https://archive.today/20190622111117/https://canadianchristianity.com/saved-2037/|archive-date=June 22, 2019}}</ref> "I would even go so far as to say that everything in the film is something I experienced or researched," Dannelly stated. "I didn't try to make up stuff."<ref name=cc/> Though set in Maryland, ''Saved!'' was filmed in [[Vancouver]], British Columbia, Canada.<ref name=huff/><ref>{{cite web|work=[[White Mountain Independent]]|url=https://www.wmicentral.com/in-saved-moore-plays-a-good-girl-with-a-twist/article_a9c71646-5015-5320-8138-479190755358.html|title=In ''Saved!'', Moore plays a good girl with a twist|last=Dawson|first=Angela|date=June 3, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190622111647/https://www.wmicentral.com/in-saved-moore-plays-a-good-girl-with-a-twist/article_a9c71646-5015-5320-8138-479190755358.html|archive-date=June 22, 2019}}</ref>

==Release==
===Box office===
After premiering at the [[Sundance Film Festival]] in January 2004, ''Saved!'' had a [[limited release|platform limited release]] in the United States on 20 screens, beginning May 28, 2004.<ref name=bomweekend>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=weekend&id=saved.htm|work=[[Box Office Mojo]]|title=''Saved!'' - Weekend Gross|archive-url=https://archive.today/20190622101723/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=weekend&id=saved.htm|archive-date=June 22, 2019}}</ref> The film grossed $345,136 during its opening weekend, and an additional 11 screens were added the following weekend.<ref name=bomweekend/> After the film had grossed an additional $340,343 during its second weekend, its release platform expanded to 589 screens on June 11, and it reached number 9 at the U.S. box office.<ref name=bomweekend/> By the conclusion of its theatrical run in August 2004, the film grossed approximately $9 million domestically,<ref name=bomweekend/> and was considered a [[sleeper hit]].<ref name=huff>{{cite web|work=[[HuffPost|The Huffington Post]]|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/patrick-fugit-saved-10-years_n_5525934?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAANV__mpn_49Q0CgBzTF9RgTG9danlWuPmri4zT-PJLhLBKogrpZtkswG0SZW6YVGzDElEyB3TnOYo6dMVIjlWgCH4KhK00Cnf9VcHelQGB0QmX2Z00AuEMS0b4HNVU7XvbO0NkcAkXkzlu5XY0AWltO2Ius1uQk9J3IhAaeESvLa|title=Patrick Fugit Remembers 'Saved!' 10 Years Later|date=June 25, 2014|last=Goodman|first=Jessica|archive-url=https://archive.today/20190622110708/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/patrick-fugit-saved-10-years_n_5525934?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAANV__mpn_49Q0CgBzTF9RgTG9danlWuPmri4zT-PJLhLBKogrpZtkswG0SZW6YVGzDElEyB3TnOYo6dMVIjlWgCH4KhK00Cnf9VcHelQGB0QmX2Z00AuEMS0b4HNVU7XvbO0NkcAkXkzlu5XY0AWltO2Ius1uQk9J3IhAaeESvLa|archive-date=June 22, 2019}}</ref> It grossed an additional $1.2 million in foreign markets, totaling $10.1 million worldwide.<ref name=bom>{{cite web|work=[[Box Office Mojo]]|title=''Saved!''|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=main&id=saved.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20190622102200/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=main&id=saved.htm|archive-date=June 22, 2019}}</ref>

===Home media===
A [[DVD]] version of the film is available from [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]] with commentary from Dannelly, Urban and co-producer [[Sandy Stern]] as well as commentary by Jena Malone and Mandy Moore; theatrical trailer, access to deleted scenes, and some [[bloopers]]. Olive Films reissued a [[Blu-ray]] edition of the film in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|work=[[DVD Talk]]|url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/71030/saved/|title=''Saved!'' (Blu-ray)|author=Spurlin, Thomas|date=September 13, 2016|archive-url=https://archive.today/20190622102857/https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/71030/saved/|archive-date=June 22, 2019}}</ref>

==Reception==
''Saved!'' received mixed reviews from critics. At critics aggregator site [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film holds a 61% rating of 88 positive reviews against 57 negative ones, with an average rating of 6.12/10. The website's critical consensus reads: "A satirical teen comedy that, unfortunately, pulls its punches."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Saved! (2004) |url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/saved/ |access-date=2020-06-25 |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]}}</ref> {{MC film|62|38|ref=yes|access-date=June 17, 2025}}

[[Roger Ebert]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' gave the film 3 and a half out of 4 stars and praised the film despite commenting that it follows formulaic tropes of other [[teen film]]s, adding that it has a "political message": {{blockquote|Jesus counseled more acceptance and tolerance than some of his followers think. By the end of the movie, mainstream Christian values have not been overthrown, but demonstrated and embraced. Those who think Christianity is just a matter of enforcing their rulebook have been, well, enlightened. And that all of this takes place in a sassy and smart teenage comedy is, well, a miracle.<ref>{{cite web|work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|title=Saved!|author=Ebert, Roger|author-link=Roger Ebert|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/saved-2004|date=May 28, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107083203/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/saved-2004|archive-date=January 7, 2019}}</ref>}}

Ken Fox of ''[[TV Guide]]'' gave the film three of five stars: {{blockquote|The first 45 minutes of this wickedly clever comedy features the smartest, tartest high-school satire since [[Alexander Payne]]'s ''[[Election (1999 film)|Election]]''. Giddily unmasking the intolerance that often comes cloaked in religious piety, the film exhausts itself long before it's over. But in the spirit of the true Christian charity it ultimately extols, the film's shortcomings are forgivable.<ref>{{cite web|work=[[TV Guide]]|last=Fox|first=Ken|title=Saved!|url=https://www.tvguide.com/movies/saved/review/137490/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190622100900/https://www.tvguide.com/movies/saved/review/137490/|archive-date=June 22, 2019}}</ref>}}

''[[The Christian Science Monitor]]''{{'}}s [[David Sterritt]] gave the film a favorable review, writing: {{blockquote|Not surprisingly, ''Saved!'' has sparked debate in religious circles. Some defend it on grounds linked to fundamentalist ideas - pointing out, for instance, that abortion isn't mentioned as an option until it's too late for Mary to have one anyway. Others find the movie's overall tone too sassy and irreverent for comfort. What the harsher critics miss is that American teenagers tend to face similar sorts of problems in all sorts of social and domestic settings. The most important thing is how they deal with their challenges, and in ''Saved!'' their search for solutions usually has a faith-based inflection, even if it's not always as straight and narrow as believers might wish.<ref>{{cite web|work=[[The Christian Science Monitor]]|title='Saved!' offers message of tolerance amid satire|last=Steritt|first=David|date=May 28, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171219114245/https://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0528/p15s01-almo.html|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0528/p15s01-almo.html|archive-date=December 19, 2017}}</ref>}}

Sean Axmaker of the ''[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]]'' wrote of the film: {{blockquote|The skewering of spiritualism, dogma and passive-aggressive prayer groups has an exaggerated absurdity that borders on cartoonish (public shows of devotion is the currency of popularity and social power in this world) and Dannelly's satire is more clever than cutting. Yet he has a deft comic touch and his observation of teenage social dynamics are dead on. It's like ''[[Mean Girls]]'' with a holier-than-thou twist and a genuine (if contrived) message of acceptance.<ref>{{cite web|work=[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]]|title='Saved!': The gospel according to fervent teens|date=June 10, 2004|author=Axmaker, Sean|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190622100636/https://www.seattlepi.com/ae/movies/article/Saved-The-gospel-according-to-fervent-teens-1146908.php|archive-date=June 22, 2019|url=https://www.seattlepi.com/ae/movies/article/Saved-The-gospel-according-to-fervent-teens-1146908.php}}</ref>}}

Other critics, however, criticized the film for alleged anti-Christian views. ''[[Slant Magazine]]'' was overwhelmingly negative on this issue, giving the film only half a star out of five and calling it the worst movie of the year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/film/review/saved|title=Saved!|author=Gonzalez, Ed|website=[[Slant Magazine]]|date=April 14, 2004|access-date=January 21, 2014}}</ref>

==Stage musical==
{{main|Saved (musical)}}
[[Playwrights Horizons]] produced a musical version of the film in 2008. Music and lyrics are by [[Michael Friedman (composer)|Michael Friedman]] with the book and lyrics by two-time [[Olivier Award]] nominee [[John Dempsey (lyricist)|John Dempsey]] and [[Rinne Groff]].<ref>{{cite news | last=Jones | first=Kenneth | title=Based on Film, Saved Musical to Premiere in NYC in 2008; Gary Griffin Directs | work=[[Playbill]] | date=March 3, 2008 | url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/107818.html | archive-url=https://archive.today/20210617220402/https://www.webcitation.org/5iY1MevSw?url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/107818-Based_on_Film_Saved_Musical_to_Premiere_in_NYC_in_2008_Gary_Griffin_Directs | archive-date=June 17, 2021 | url-status=dead }}</ref> The musical opened on June 3, 2008, at [[Playwrights Horizons]] and closed on June 22, 2008.<ref>{{cite news | last=Jones | first=Kenneth | title=First Preview of Saved Is Lost; Musical Will Start May 10 | work=[[Playbill]] | date=May 9, 2008 | url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/117597.html | archive-url=https://archive.today/20240524104959/https://www.webcitation.org/5iY1QgTqD?url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/117597-First_Preview_of_Saved_Is_Lost_Musical_Will_Start_May_10 | archive-date=May 24, 2024 | url-status=dead }}</ref> The cast included [[Aaron Tveit]], [[Celia Keenan-Bolger]], [[John Dossett]], [[Julia Murney]], Devyn Rush, Curtis Holbrook, and [[Mary Faber]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
* {{IMDb title}}
* {{Mojo title}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes}}

[[Category:2004 films]]
[[Category:2004 black comedy films]]
[[Category:2004 comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:2004 directorial debut films]]
[[Category:2004 independent films]]
[[Category:2004 LGBTQ-related films]]
[[Category:American coming-of-age comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:American LGBTQ-related films]]
[[Category:LGBTQ-related satirical films]]
[[Category:LGBTQ-related coming-of-age comedy films]]
[[Category:Films about anti-LGBTQ sentiment]]
[[Category:American teen comedy films]]
[[Category:Films about LGBTQ and evangelicalism]]
[[Category:Films about people with paraplegia or tetraplegia]]
[[Category:Films critical of Christianity and Christians]]
[[Category:Films set in Maryland]]
[[Category:Films shot in Vancouver]]
[[Category:Films adapted into plays]]
[[Category:American pregnancy films]]
[[Category:Films about proms]]
[[Category:American religious comedy films]]
[[Category:Teenage pregnancy in film]]
[[Category:United Artists films]]
[[Category:Films critical of religion]]
[[Category:Religious satire films]]
[[Category:Films scored by Christophe Beck]]
[[Category:Teensploitation]]
[[Category:2000s satirical films]]
[[Category:2000s English-language films]]
[[Category:2000s American films]]
[[Category:Gay-related films]]
[[Category:English-language black comedy films]]
[[Category:English-language independent films]]
[[Category:Films about disability in the United States]]