"Die replacement friends!"
Saving Silverman
Review by Ross Anthony

If you love movies about a bunch of imbeciles - here's another one to add to your list. (It's on my list - I loved it). Best buds in loser-guy-dom and Neil Diamond worship (as in restraining orders) go on a mission to rescue one of their own from relationship disaster.

Biggs (who isn't the star of this film) falls for sexy and voracious Amanda Peet who dictates his every move. "He's my puppet and I'm his puppet master!"

Zahn (who is the star of this movie) is absolutely stone-bone-headed hilarious as the big-hearted, small-brained, rodent-repelling dolt that simply refuses to let some Ph.D. beauty steal his best friend.

Black (Zahn's sidekick) plays the beer-drinking, nacho-scarfing pig - he's a natural. Amanda Detmer shines as the high school sweetheart. Her character's background is so outlandish, it's a huge complement to say she looked great performing around it.

Actually, the entire ensemble performs well; Neil's brief appearances aren't even so bad. The direction is sharp and crisp, keeping this film paced upbeat from start to finish. Kudos to the writers for packing the script with lots of funny stuff. This isn't a film that wasted any time on fillers between the comedic moments. Just about everything this film had to say is humorous - even if a few jokes go left of the funnybone. I appreciated all the little add-ins like Zahn trying to blow out candles Biggs had set out for Peet or frustrated with Peet, Zahn's cowardice rage has him rearranging her desk lamp configuration as the impotent expression of his anger.

With so much humor to relate, the film neglected it's intensity arch for just a second and climaxes about ten minutes tardy. But this is an err easy to overlook, especially when you're chuckling.

Though not quite as solid as Biggs' earlier "American Pie," "Saving Silverman" is just plain funny. I laughed a lot and enjoyed myself.

(Neil Diamond lovers take a risk on this film; though you'd never admit to your friends or even yourself, you might just get a kick out of it.)



  • Saving Silverman. Copyright © 2001. Rated PG-13.
  • Starring Steve Zahn, Jack Black, Jason Biggs, Amanda Peet, Amanda Detmer, R. Lee Ermey, Neil Diamond.
  • Directed by Dennis Dugan.
  • Written by Greg DePaul, Hank Nelken.
  • Produced by Neal H. Moritz at Columbia Pictures/Village Roadshow Pictures/NPV Entertainment.



Grade..........................A-



Copyright © 2001. Ross Anthony, currently based in Los Angeles, has scripted and shot documentaries, music videos, and shorts in 35 countries across North America, Europe, Africa and Asia. For more reviews visit: RossAnthony.com


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Last Modified: Saturday, 16-Sep-2006 07:53:24 PDT