Watch Saving Silverman
- PG-13
- 2001
- 1 hr 30 min
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5.8 (42,471)
Saving Silverman is a 2001 comedy film that stars Jason Biggs, Steve Zahn, and Jack Black. Directed by Dennis Dugan and written by Hank Nelken, the movie is about two friends who go to extreme measures to prevent their pal from marrying the wrong woman. Darren Silverman (Jason Biggs), a hapless romantic and a die-hard Neil Diamond fan, is about to marry the controlling and manipulative Judith (Amanda Peet). His best friends J.D. (Jack Black) and Wayne (Steve Zahn) are not happy about his choice and decide to intervene. They hatch a plan to kidnap Judith and set Darren up with his high school crush, the sweet and innocent Sandy (Amanda Detmer).
The first part of the movie focuses on the trio's attempts to woo Sandy, who is initially uninterested in Darren. Meanwhile, Judith discovers the plan and tries to break free from her captors. Her character is portrayed as a caricature of a feminist, a common trope at the time, who belittles and emasculates Darren. Amanda Peet does her best with the limited material she's given, but her character falls flat and is often more annoying than funny.
As the story progresses, the tension between the friends and Judith increases, leading to a series of over-the-top hijinks and shenanigans. Jack Black steals most of the scenes he's in, playing the loud and obnoxious J.D. with his trademark energy and humor. Steve Zahn is also great as Wayne, the more quiet and sensitive of the three. Jason Biggs, however, feels miscast in his role. While he's certainly likable, he doesn't have as much comedic timing or presence as his co-stars.
The film's humor is often crude and juvenile, relying on slapstick, physical gags and sexual innuendos. It's not a movie that will appeal to everyone, but for those who enjoy raunchy comedies, Saving Silverman delivers some laughs. However, some of the gags have aged poorly, and the film's treatment of women and LGBT characters is regressive and insensitive. There's a subplot involving Neil Diamond that's also pretty ridiculous but provides some of the movie's more memorable moments.
Overall, Saving Silverman is a silly and predictable movie, but it has its moments. It's not a classic comedy by any means, but it's entertaining enough for a lazy weekend watch. The chemistry between the main trio is what makes the movie work, and their friendship is genuinely heartwarming. It's a shame that the script doesn't do justice to their talents, but they manage to make the most of it. If you're a fan of Jason Biggs, Jack Black, or Steve Zahn, then you'll probably enjoy this movie. Just don't expect a masterpiece.
Saving Silverman is a 2001 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes. It has received poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.8 and a MetaScore of 22.