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Darren (Jason Biggs of
American Pie) is convinced that he'll never know love, since his one true love moved away during high school. To cheer him up, Darren's best friends Wayne (Steve Zahn,
Out of Sight,
That Thing You Do) and J.D. (Jack Black,
High Fidelity) hook him up with Judith (Amanda Peet,
The Whole Nine Yards)--little suspecting that Judith will tear their friendship apart. Judith wastes no time in taking over Darren's life, exiling his friends, and burning his beloved Neil Diamond records. If only Wayne and J.D. can bring Darren back together with his high school sweetheart (Amanda Detmer), who's about to become a nun.
Saving Silverman is unquestionably of the
There's Something About Mary school of comedy, throwing together absurd characters and over-the-top gags (for example, a scene of Darren getting butt implants, per Judith's orders). It doesn't quite balance everything, but Black and Zahn are engaging comic talents. Also featuring R. Lee Ermey as the boy's deranged high school football coach, whose advice continues to guide their lives, as well as a surprise appearance by Neil Diamond himself.
--Bret Fetzer
Two brilliant comic actors, Steve Zahn and Jack Black, team up as friends who try to persuade their pal (Jason Biggs) not to marry the fiancée from hell (a sexy and cunning Amanda Peet). Director Dennis Dugan moves the story along swiftly and sloppily-the gags are thrown at the audience like pies-but it's the inspired pairing of Zahn (an alluring ringleader with boundless energy) and Black (a natural big-hearted Bozo) which gives the movie its circus appeal. -Bruce Diones
Copyright © 2006
The New Yorker