Steve Zahn, Jack Black, and Jason Biggs play Wayne, J.D., and Darren, three good friends who, in addition to their day jobs, perform as a Neil Diamond tribute band. Awkward nice guy Darren (Biggs is certainly one of those actors who's cornered the market on this sort of character) strikes out with women. Then, a cold-hearted beauty named Judith (Amanda Peet) decides to pursue a relationship with him, but she just basically enjoys completely dominating and manipulating him. She drives a wedge in the friendship of these three guys, and helps to break up the band, so Wayne and J.D. decide to kidnap her. Wayne also works overtime to set Darren up with the high school hottie (adorable Amanda Detmer) he never got up the nerve to ask out. The catch: Detmer is now in training to become a nun.
This viewer was surprised that he enjoyed this as much as he did, but "Saving Silverman" does deliver a lot of genuine laughs. It manages to play in the "gross-out", absurdist sandbox popularized by the Farrelly brothers in their movies, without ever getting too mean-spirited or ugly. It has a lot of outrageous moments as it decides to leave reality far behind, and is just good fun in general.
The talented comedy cast plays all of their roles to the hilt. Zahn in particular just grabs the bull by the horns and goes for broke. Neither Wayne nor J.D. are particularly bright, but Wayne is definitely more of a "take charge" type of guy. Peet plays the gorgeous antagonist for everything that the role is worth. And she's *smart*, figuring out how she can manipulate Wayne & J.D. as well. Detmer is extremely engaging as the gal with whom Darren would obviously be better off. And the late, great military man turned character actor R. Lee Ermey is a riot as the Coach, with some of the best lines in the picture. Diamond gives a capable, self-aware performance as himself, figuring in a very bright wrap-up. (Not to mention an upbeat end credits sequence where the main cast perform on stage with him.)
"Saving Silverman" is deliberately goofy, undemanding, lively entertainment. Far from "great cinema", but sometimes a fun, no-brainer, over the top comedy can be ideal for brightening ones' mood.
Available in both the PG-13 theatrical version and a raunchier R-rated cut, complete with nudity.
Seven out of 10.
This viewer was surprised that he enjoyed this as much as he did, but "Saving Silverman" does deliver a lot of genuine laughs. It manages to play in the "gross-out", absurdist sandbox popularized by the Farrelly brothers in their movies, without ever getting too mean-spirited or ugly. It has a lot of outrageous moments as it decides to leave reality far behind, and is just good fun in general.
The talented comedy cast plays all of their roles to the hilt. Zahn in particular just grabs the bull by the horns and goes for broke. Neither Wayne nor J.D. are particularly bright, but Wayne is definitely more of a "take charge" type of guy. Peet plays the gorgeous antagonist for everything that the role is worth. And she's *smart*, figuring out how she can manipulate Wayne & J.D. as well. Detmer is extremely engaging as the gal with whom Darren would obviously be better off. And the late, great military man turned character actor R. Lee Ermey is a riot as the Coach, with some of the best lines in the picture. Diamond gives a capable, self-aware performance as himself, figuring in a very bright wrap-up. (Not to mention an upbeat end credits sequence where the main cast perform on stage with him.)
"Saving Silverman" is deliberately goofy, undemanding, lively entertainment. Far from "great cinema", but sometimes a fun, no-brainer, over the top comedy can be ideal for brightening ones' mood.
Available in both the PG-13 theatrical version and a raunchier R-rated cut, complete with nudity.
Seven out of 10.