Saved!

I’m too close to this one to be trusted, but I thought you would all probably want to hear my POV on this, anyway.

There are more themes in this movie that I empathize then most would realize, so it was a little difficult to see it with other people in the theater. Many will consider this to be an almost pure black comedy, and it might be intended that way, but the scenes of ultra-religious teenagers and trying-to-be-hip youth pastors and singing songs with raised hands were all things I’ve experienced first hand…and I have never felt they were deserving of ridicule. Mandy Moore was a little over-the-top in her role, but otherwise the treatment of charismatic Christian youth was not insulting, although the gay couple in the row behind us unknowingly insulted me a few times with their laughter. (Wow, a straight white Christian male feels the tables turned…)

For me, Saved! was touching and honest and wonderful. I struggle with the idea that most people will either consider it a farcical fairy tale and the rest will consider it blasphemy, but when the movie was over I had one of those “I want to stay in the theater and never let the movie end” moments.

Posted by etrigan at June 23, 2004 9:52 PM