Released Date: 23 September 2004

Synopsis (Courtesy from Lighthouse Pictures) :

"Good girl" Mary (Jena Malone) and her domineering best friend, Hilary Faye (Mandy Moore), are starting their senior year at the top of the social food chain at American Eagle Christian High School - that is until Mary's boyfriend tells her he thinks he might be gay. When Jesus appears to her in a vision, she heeds his message to "do everything she can to help him," and, to her horror, she ends up pregnant. Suddenly, Mary begins to question everything she's believed in, and Hilary Faye and her devoted "disciples" (including Heather Matarazzo) turn against her. As an outcast, Mary finds herself alone until she's befriended by the school's other pariahs: Hilary Faye's cynical, wheelchair-bound brother, Roland (Macaulay Culkin); the principal's skater heartthrob son, Patrick (Patrick Fugit); and the high school's lone Jew, an exuberant rebel named Cassandra (Eva Amurri). In this sweetly subversive comedy, a group of outsiders band together to navigate the treacherous halls of high school and make it to graduation, ultimately learning more about themselves, finding faith in unexpected places, and realizing what it truly means to be Saved!.

Review:

How far would you practice what you preach?

In this religiously-dominated story, college girl Mary, thought Jesus had appeared in her vision, telling her to "do everything she can" to help her gay boyfriend. However, she ends up pregnant and the boyfriend however did not change his ways. Mary starts to question everything she used to believe in which disgusted her pal, Hilary
Faye (Mandy Moore) who later turns the school against her. In addition to her already complicated turmoil, her single-mum have been secretly dating her school principle. Fortunately, the college "bad girl", Cassandra and Hilary's wheelchair bound brother, Roland became her unlikely alliances. Together with school's heartthrob, Patrick, these youngsters ultimately re-discovered the meaning of faith, in an warp but hilarious fashion, by being acceptance and tolerance towards other's religion and beliefs.

Saved!'s engaged a neat line-up of upcoming stars which includes Jena Malone, Mandy Moore, Macaulay Culkin, Patrick Fugit, Heather Matarazzo, Eva Amurri, with Martin Donovan and Mary-Louise Parker. At a glance, this movie may be a typical school day
outing of boys and girls falling in love. However, it questions the old-time practice of religion, love and faith with the current World. It bravely voice this message to those who having inability to understand that each and everyone in this World have their own ways of living and will never believe in exactly the same thing
in a non-criticising and logical manner.

Filmed quickly over a 28-day period during the fall of 2002 in Vancouver, the casts and crew have surprisingly excelled in most aspects. But the main theme on religion might be too controversial to be readily accepted or approved by the audience.

Good attempt but unfortunately not a box-office favorite.

Storyline: 6/10

Starbuzz: 3/10

Entertainment: 6/10

Cinematography: 4/10

Overall: 4.7/10

Rating: C